With questions over the Mercedes driven by Lewis Hamilton in qualifying, Max Verstappen was recorded giving the car in question rear wing a once over. Verstappen was in an area he knows if off limits to him and a place no repairs or inspections of any kind can be carried out. The AP has original story:
Besides Max Verstappen, the FIA also summoned a Mercedes official for a separate meeting Saturday
SAO PAULO (AP) — Red Bull driver Max Verstappen was summoned to meet with stewards Saturday at the Brazilian Grand Prix after video taken from the grandstands at Interlagos showed the championship leader touching the rear wing on rival Lewis Hamilton’s car.
The video recorded by a spectator at Interlagos shows the Red Bull driver apparently inspecting the rear wing on the Mercedes in parc ferme — a secured area for cars at the track.
“Inside the Parc Ferme, only the officials assigned may enter. No operation, checking, tuning or repair is allowed unless authorized by the same officials or by the applicable regulations,” according to Article 2.5.1 of the FIA sporting code.
The FIA also summoned a Mercedes official for a separate meeting Saturday.
Hamilton beat Verstappen by over 0.4 seconds in qualifying for Saturday’s sprint race at Interlagos, but Mercedes is under investigation for its DRS exceeding the maximum distance when opened. The technical infringement typically leads to exclusion from a session, and the FIA is expected to make its ruling ahead of Saturday’s practice session.
Verstappen leads Hamilton by 19 points in the standings with four races left this season. Regardless of the investigation into Hamilton’s DRS, the British driver was already set to take a five-place penalty on the starting grid Sunday for an engine change.
The Brazilian GP is the third event of the season with a qualifying sprint race on Saturday to determine Sunday’s grid. The two previous sprint races were held at Silverstone and Monza.
By MAURICIO SAVARESE
