[raceweekendpromotion]Lewis Hamilton has kept his victory in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix after he was investigated by the stewards for disconnecting his seat belts on his return to the pits after today’s race.
The stewards fined the driver €5,000 for the incident and issued a further €20,000 fine suspended until the end of the 2022 F1 season. The additional fine will be payable if he commits a similar offence in the future.“The driver of car 44, Lewis Hamilton, undid his seat belts on the in-lap at the end of the race,” the stewards explained. “While the stewards are sympathetic to the desire to celebrate, it is fundamentally unsafe to undo the seat belts while the car is in motion. Slow speeds in these cars are very fast for an unrestrained occupant.
“Further, Formula 1 drivers set the example for junior categories. It is critical that junior category drivers learn the importance of using all the safety devices of the car at all times.
“The suspension of the penalty is subject to compliance with Appendix L, Ch. III of the ISC during the period specified.”
Hamilton’s win moved him within 14 points of championship leader Max Verstappen.
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2021 Sao Paulo Grand Prix
- Red Bull and Mercedes summoned to FIA hearing on review of Sao Paulo incident
- McLaren must “get back to scoring the results that are on the table” – Seidl
- Hamilton makes his second-biggest climb to victory from 10th on the grid
- F1 releases missing video footage from Verstappen’s car of Hamilton incident
- How Alonso and Ocon “pushed team tactics to the ultimate limit” to delay Gasly
Moshambles (@moshambles)
14th November 2021, 20:35
Fine
BasCB (@bascb)
14th November 2021, 20:36
Right. Nice they told everyone up front to not do this anymore after years of drivers undoing seatbelts on the in-lap occasionally without any mention of a penalty.
Not to mention Leclerc drove 2 laps at full racing speed with his seatbelts undone last year and nobody from the FIA even deeming THAT an issue at all.
Then again 5000 k really is nothing for Hamilton, I am sure he will be happy to throw the FIA their bonus.
RandomMallard (@)
14th November 2021, 21:06
@bascb This was raised in a drivers’ briefing a few years ago (one of the ones they had on video from 2017), so it’s not entirely new to them. I can’t remember another example of a driver doing that since that drivers’ meeting (maybe Silverstone 2019, but I can’t remember fully)
ian dearing
14th November 2021, 21:31
Don’t remember LeClerc doing that during a race, broadcasting the fact, and the RD ignoring it?
Samouri (@samouri)
14th November 2021, 22:24
Last season Leclerc raced for 2 laps with his seatbelts completely undone, and not a peep from RD Masi or race stewards.
MacLeod (@macleod)
15th November 2021, 8:54
I remember it but he came in to fix the problem so no action was needed. His seatbelt wasn’t completly loss but he couldn’t fixed it himself. It was a engine problem which sovled itself so he could continue.
Kotrba
14th November 2021, 21:38
I am pretty sure, Lewis has undone his in Silverstone this year in-lap as well. Was not mentioned anywhere back then.
Jere (@jerejj)
15th November 2021, 10:01
@randommallard 2017, yes, Japanese GP by Grosjean: https://youtu.be/tPr5khO86Eg?t=75
Indeed nothing new, not to mention other drivers have also done the same for a victory celebration.
Boomearng
14th November 2021, 20:39
After today’s stellar performance I can only say: OLD LEWIS IS BACK!!! No need to waste time commenting what stewards were doing this weekend.
erikje
15th November 2021, 8:01
/hamfan mode..
This had to be a DSQ. Fia is helping him everywhere.
Familton International assistance.
:)
Jere (@jerejj)
14th November 2021, 20:40
Sensible. Giving a sporting penalty for something he’s (including other drivers) done before would’ve been overboard.
ian dearing
14th November 2021, 20:41
You can’t do this after the chequered flag as its sets a bad example; so just do it during the race as that’s not an issue.
Mike
14th November 2021, 21:19
You’re not kidding. George Russell did this in Mexico during a safety car period to look for damage to his car. That’s how his drink tube got pulled out. There was never even a mention of it from the stewards.
I don’t recall ever hearing of a fine for drivers riding on the side of another car after the race, either. But somehow today’s action was unacceptable.
SteveR
14th November 2021, 22:56
Are you saying Russell undid his belts and then re-buckled them while driving? I’ve raced FF1600 and FF2000; there was no way I was able to do up my own belts – you can’t get your arms down to connect the main belt or insert the crotch straps/shoulder straps into the buckle, let alone do this while driving. Racing single seaters you get very intimate with your crew people……. About all you can do is tighten the shoulder straps.
iCarbs (@icarby)
14th November 2021, 20:44
Ridiculous.
SPIDERmaN (@spiderman)
14th November 2021, 20:53
Seems the stewards in this Brazil race HAD a thing of targeted actions towards Mercedes and Hamilton. We need to know who they were. These actions are bringing the FIA into bad repute
Sonny Crockett (@sonnycrockett)
14th November 2021, 21:01
Oh come on F1, stop being the boring relative.
Drivers/riders do all sorts of exciting stuff in other series. Lewis slowed to a stop, undid his seatbelt, then drove very slowly with a Brazilian flag. Hardly dangerous, whatever clause 1,136 sub-section 734 says on the official directives.
Postreader
14th November 2021, 22:04
Not to mention Leclerc did two full race laps with no seatbelts once and there wasn’t even an investigation.
MacLeod (@macleod)
15th November 2021, 9:13
But Charles pitted for that….
@sonnycrockett, I already knew it would be a fine as a repri would be too heavy.
Tommy C (@tommy-c)
14th November 2021, 21:24
Setting an example for kids is the best justification ever! Was it not Lewis saying the same in relation to radio messages just last week?
Tommy C (@tommy-c)
14th November 2021, 21:28
I hate to think how much Webber would be fined for removing his helmet on the cool down lap these days…
ttongsul (@ccpbioweapon)
14th November 2021, 22:09
Bizarre that Leclerc drove a live race with loose seat belts with no fine
multiple drivers in the past gave lifts on the in lap
Mark webber took off his helmet pre halo days
moto gp rider have zero restraints and wave flags without killing anyone
But Hamilton gets fined for waving the flag in memory of his Brazilian idol Ayrton Senna..
“Formula 1 drivers set the example for junior categories” to justify the fine is a load of crap. Lower formulas are full of rich spoiled pay drivers who drive like maniacs regardless of what the ‘role models’ in F1 do, also talking about setting an example: running cars of the track forcing them to take evading maneuvers to avoid a crash- no fine, loosen seatbelts to hold a flag after winning a race- fined? FIA stewards are a joke and seem to have a vendetta against Lewis Hamilton this weekend.
If anything he should get a warning but the vindictive stewards obviously want to stick it to Lewis and give him the maximum punishment that does not match the ‘crime’.
DaveW (@dmw)
14th November 2021, 22:45
That’s all this weekend needed lol. What if they gave him a grid penalty for Qatar. There would be a TRO issued against Wolff.
S
15th November 2021, 6:55
Not bad. 50k for touching a car with your finger, 5k for driving around without mandatory safety devices.
Good to see they’ve got their priorities right….
MacLeod (@macleod)
15th November 2021, 9:14
I would think it would be also 50k but for the heck…