Đizs Krajst
After deliberation the stewards issued Hamilton a reprimand for the incident, his first of the current season, meaning his final race time remained unaltered.
The stewards took three factors into account when deciding against issuing a time penalty:
(i) the driver and the team candidly admitted the mistake and the fact that there was confusion within the team as to whether to stay out or to enter the pits and that led to the infringement.
(ii) The fact that the infringement took place during a Safety Car period.
(iii) At no time was there any danger to any other competitor and the change in direction was executed in a safe way.
The verdict concluded: "Taking all of the above into account, including considering previous infringements of the above rule, we are of the opinion that a reprimand would be the appropriate penalty for the said infringement on this occasion."
By contrast, the Raikkonen incident mentioned above had occured at full racing speed at Baku's notoriously tricky pit entry. In that instance, Raikkonen had placed all four wheels inside the pit entry lines while racing wheel to wheel with Daniel Ricciardo, highlighting why the stewards may have opted to break with precedent in this case.
