© Steve Etherington for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
Lewis Hamilton has been reprimanded, while Mercedes received a fine for “unnecessary impeding” Nikita Mazepin in Saudi Arabian Grand Prix FP3.
After Saudi Arabian Grand Prix FP3 Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes team manager Ron Meadows have been summoned to the stewards for “unnecessary impeding” Nikita Mazepin.
The FIA has now announced that Lewis Hamilton has received a reprimand, while Mercedes received a 25,000 Euro fine. According to the stewards Mercedes’ call to tell Hamilton that Mazepin was approaching was too late, just 10 seconds before the Russian emerged behind him.
However, the important thing is that there will be no grid penaly.
“The stewards have decided that it was the team’s fault, not Hamilton’s,” Sky Sports F1’s Ted Kravitz said.
Here is the stewards report:
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“The driver was given a 10-second warning that car 9 [Mazepin] was approaching when he was at turn two.
“Due to a failure in communication by the team he was not given another warning until car nine was alongside him.
“The stewards accept that this circuit presents challenges for drivers in relation to using their mirrors as the method of determining the approach of overtaking cars.
“Although it is the driver’s ultimate responsibility to avoid impeding, for this circuit the driver must depend upon the team to communicate efficiently. This did not happen in this case and accordingly, the penalty for the competitor is imposed.
“The stewards take this opportunity to emphasise that due to the nature of this circuit it is essential that teams communicate effectively and proactively with their drivers.
“This is not to be taken as a precedent for other circuits.”
