© Steve Etherington for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
Lewis Hamilton has been cleared of any wrongdoing at Mexican Grand Prix Qualifying, after the FIA checked his on-board cameras.
After the Mexican Grand Prix Qualifying, Lewis Hamilton was investigated by the stewards for allegedly going too fast under yellow flags at Turn 3 in Q1.
After checking his on-board footage, they cleared Lewis of any wrongdoing.
“The on-board video clearly shows there is no light or flag displayed to Car 44 on the straight into Turn 1, then a green light shows as he enters Turn 2, which is followed by 2 pulses of a yellow light then moments later, the light panel is blank,” the verdict read.
“The driver was slightly slower in the mini sector than on his previous push lap. Our determination is that there was no breach of the regulations,” the verdict concluded.
George Russell, Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso were also under investigation for blocking the exit of the pit lane, after they slowed to a stop while trying to create a gap to the car in front.
The FIA ultimately cleared them all.
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“The stewards consider that the entire set of incidents occurred as a direct result of the implementation of the minimum lap time between SC2 and SC1 which is designed (correctly so, in our view) to avoid dangerous backing-up of cars on the circuit during qualification,” the verdict read.
“We note that there are contrary requirements on drivers in that they must respect the minimum time, they are attempting to create manageable gaps to cars in front, yet they are also required to avoid unnecessarily stopping at the pit exit or driving unnecessarily slowly.
“All parties including the Stewards are firmly of the view that it is better to have the potential of cars backing-up in the pit lane or at the pit exit, instead of the potentially dangerous situation of large speed differences on track.
“We consider that in the main all drivers involved in these incidents were acting in good faith and with safety as a priority. We also accept that race direction has taken the correct approach in apply the minimum lap time.
“It is desirable that better solution be found for the pit exit however at this stage, what that solution would be, is unknown,” the verdict concluded.
