Mercedes driver, Lewis Hamilton keeps his P2 position for tomorrow’s race.As stewards cleared him in a post-qualifying investigation over yellow-flags.
Regaining champion was summoned to Austrian GP stewards on two-counts for not slowing down on his final flying lap during final minutes of Q3, after his teammate and pole sitter Bottas went off the track in final sector.
After Investigation, stewards cleared six-time champion of any wrong doing, otherwise Hamilton would have punished with 5 place grid drop penalty for ignoring yellow flags.
FIA official statement
“The driver mentioned that he passed a green light panel in turn 5,” read a statement. “The video footage confirmed that there have been yellow flags and green light panels at the same time and therefore conflicting signals were shown to the driver. Taking this into account, the stewards decide to take no further action.”
Briton was found guilty of the other offence – running off the track on his opening lap of Q3 – and has duly had that 1:03.061 lap time deleted. But as the world champion final effort – 1:02.951 was good enough for P2 position behind Bottas.
What Hamilton Said about it?
During post-qualifying discussion, when asked about yellow flags,the Englishman said “Not that I saw, no,”
“I came round the corner, got on the power and I thought that Valtteri had perhaps gone wide and then come back on further up the road. So I was looking out for the gravel on the track and the car on the track, but there was nothing there so I continued.
“Then I saw going into Turn Six, that Valtteri was much further to the left. So it happened pretty quick and it was a pretty big puff of dust.”