The F1 championship contenders were involved in their most recent controversial incident of a dramatic 2021 season as they battled for leadership of the race in Brazil on lap 48.
Hamilton tried to bypass Verstappen on the left turn of Descida do Lago, but Verstappen held his line and eventually forced both drivers to briefly deviate from the track.
The incident was noted by the stewards, who did not consider further investigation necessary, which Mercedes boss Toto Wolff described as “ridiculous”.
FIA race director Michael Masi confirmed to the media after the race that the stewards made their judgment without the availability of Verstappen’s front camera.
Related articles
That moment when we all held our breath on Sunday
No quarter given #BrazilGP # F1 pic.twitter.com/GrN72yzRCP
– Formula 1 (@ F1) November 14, 2021
The only footage the stewards had access to was Verstappen’s rear-facing camera, trackside cameras, a helicopter shot, and the front-facing board of Hamilton’s car.
Related articles
Masi admitted that the lack of a front camera “possibly” was key evidence, but “we didn’t have access to it”.
“It was not procured, but requested,” said Masi. “It’s going to be downloaded and we’ll look at it.”
Similar incidents in which one driver let another off the road resulted in a five-second penalty, but Masi dismissed the suggestion that the stewards’ decision revealed any inconsistencies.
“I don’t think it’s inconsistent,” argued Masi. “You look at it, and as I’ve said many times before you judge the incident by its permissions, you look at everything.
“And let’s not forget that we have the general principles of ‘Let them race’ and when we look at them with all the angles at our disposal, that philosophy has been adopted.”
The post F1 stewards called without Verstappen’s front camera first appeared on monter-une-startup.
