Hamilton Avoids Grid Penalty After Brazil GP Investigation

Lewis Hamilton has escaped a grid penalty following an investigation by F1 stewards after sprint qualifying at the Brazilian Grand Prix. The seven-time world champion was placed under investigation after the SQ2 session, where Ferrari's Charles Leclerc also exited, for failing to sufficiently slow down under yellow flags.

Why it matters:

Hamilton's potential penalty, especially for a yellow flag infringement, could have significantly impacted his starting position for the Sprint Race, further complicating Mercedes' weekend. Avoiding a grid drop keeps him in a better position to salvage points, though his starting spot is already compromised.

The details:

• Incident: Hamilton was investigated for not slowing down adequately under waved yellow flags. This occurred after Leclerc spun at the exit of Turn 10 at Interlagos, with Hamilton driving past the Monegasque driver without a clear attempt to reduce speed.
• SQ2 Exit: Hamilton was unable to set a second flying lap, as he crossed the start line after the chequered flag, leaving him P11.
• Stewards' Verdict: The stewards ultimately decided against a grid penalty. Instead, they opted to delete his fastest lap time from the segment. However, this deleted lap was reportedly slower than his personal best in SQ2, meaning it had no real impact on his qualifying position.
• Leclerc's Position: Charles Leclerc is set to start the Sprint Race in eighth place.

The big picture:

Yellow flag infringements are taken very seriously in Formula 1, especially after several high-profile incidents over the years where drivers have been penalized for not respecting trackside warnings. Hamilton's escape with only a deleted lap time (that didn't affect his grid slot) suggests the stewards found sufficient mitigating circumstances or a minor nature to the infringement. This decision allows Hamilton to focus on climbing through the field in the Sprint Race without further setback, crucial for Mercedes' hopes of salvaging a challenging weekend in Brazil.