Mercedes duo Lewis Hamilton and George Russell are facing penalties following a grid infringement ahead of the São Paulo Grand Prix.
Race control aborted the initial start after Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll skidded off track on the formation lap, clipping a barrier with his front wing, and then beaching his car in the gravel as he attempted to return to the circuit.
Race director Niels Wittich then announced a 10-minute window for the cars to be prepared again for the official start.
Technical delegate Jo Bauer, however, has called Mercedes for an infringement relating to the tyre pressures on the cars of Hamilton and Russell whilst the cars were being readied.
A report from Bauer read: “On the grid and when the race start was aborted, between the 10 minutes and the 5 minutes signal, on car numbers 63 and 44, the tyre pressures were adjusted (pressure released) with wheels already fitted to the car.
“As this is in contradiction to TD003 N, items 2. c) and 2. h) i., I am referring this matter to the stewards for their consideration.”
TD, in this instance, refers to technical directive.
