Hamilton and Raikkonen reprimanded for track limits violations

Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen have been reprimanded for their track limits violations in the first practice session.

The pair slid off the track at turn one in separate incidents and failed to rejoin the track correctly. Neither passed to the left of the bollard at the exit of turn three, as specified in the instructions issued to drivers.

The rules on rejoining the track at this corner were changed after a series of kerbs were removed. Drivers were originally told to rejoin by driving around the left of those kerbs. However six-and-a-half hours after the original race directors notes were published revised guidance was issued using the bollard as the reference for rejoining the track.

The stewards noted Hamilton “left the track on the left hand-side between turns one and two and re-joined the track between turns two and three, rather than re-joining by driving to the left-hand side of the bollard at turn three.” Raikkonen’s infringement was largely similar, except he rejoined before turn two.

“Whilst noting [Hamilton’s] comments in relation to track conditions and his attempt to steer to the left after leaving the track, the stewards consider this to be a failure to follow the race director’s instruction given in article 21.1a) of the race director’s event notes,” the stewards added.

Both drivers were given their first reprimands of the season for the incidents.

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