Formula One

Mercedes summoned to stewards for parc ferme breach

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The Mercedes team has been summoned to meet with the FIA race stewards at the Spanish Grand Prix after reports that team personnel had broken the rules over parc ferme procedure.

Lewis Hamilton and George Russell finished the race in second and third place and duly returned to parc ferme where they were interviewed by Nico Rosberg on behalf of the media before the podium presentation.

But officials noted that there had been a breach of sporting regulations by the physiotherapists for both drivers and for non-compliance with the race director’s post-race procedures.

According to the rules, the physios were supposed to wait outside the cool down room behind the podium until the ceremony has been completed.

Nobody is supposed to be in the designated parc ferme area once the cars arrive back except for team mechanics, officials and FIA pre-approved TV crews and photographers.

George Russell (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 celebrates his third position in parc ferme.
04.06.2023. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 8, Spanish Grand Prix, Barcelona, Spain, Race Day.
- www.xpbimages.com, EMail: requests@xpbimages.com © Copyright: Bearne / XPB Images

There was a similar breach last year at the Austrian Grand Prix, with Mercedes one of the teams involved on that occasion as well.

They received a suspended 10,000 euro fine on that occasion, which means that an actual penalty might be levied this time for a repeat offence.

However the sanction with be a financial penalty on the team and not a sporting penalty on the driver, meaning that neither Hamilton nor Russell face a loss of position or points as a result of the incident.

In the race, Russell had been lucky not to be penalised for taking to the escape road on the opening lap, which enabled him to bypass traffic and make up five places.

“George managed to get away with running off track, not getting a penalty from that,” Red Bull boss Christian Horner complained to Sky Sports F1 after the finish.

And Russell also escaped with just a formal warning after a dangerous incident in Saturday’s qualifying session that saw him make contact with team mate Hamilton in turn 1 towards the end of Q2.

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Mercedes summoned to stewards for parc ferme breach F1i.com.

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