F1: Mercedes Demands Review Of Verstappen-Hamilton Clash At Interlagos

While Hamilton capped off a memorable and commanding victory over Max Verstappen at Interlagos coming from P10 in the main race, there was a flashpoint on lap 48 of the race where Max Verstappen in his defence of the lead of the race seemingly pushed Hamilton off the race track. The Stewards decided to take no action as they didn't have footage from Verstappen's steering wheel at the time, but now that the footage has emerged, the Mercedes team has triggered the right to review.

"Mercedes-AMG F1 Team confirms that we have today requested a Right of Review under Article 14.1.1 of the International Sporting Code, in relation to the turn four incident between car 44 [Hamilton] and car 33 [Verstappen] on lap 48 of the 2021 Brazilian Grand Prix, on the basis of new evidence unavailable to the stewards at the time of their decision," the team revealed.

Max Verstappen Lewis Hamilton AFP

This is critical because in Austria Sergio Perez and Lando Norris were both penalised at the Austrian GP for similar clashes. But the footage that's been released also reveals that Verstappen was struggling with understeer which also forced him off the track. In the case of Perez and Norris, the stewards handed the pair a 5 second time penalty, and if that were to happen to Verstappen, he would be down to P3 to Bottas which would reduce his lead by another 2 points and give Mercedes a further 4 point advantage over Red Bull in the constructors.

The jury is out on this and regardless it will be a marginal call and if Verstappen gets penalised there will be a lot of chatter, just the way Mercedes boss was left very happy after no action was taken against the Dutchman for the move.