Why was Max Verstappen Only Handed a 50K Fine But Lewis Hamilton Sensationally Disqualified from Brazilian GP Qualifying?

After hours of waiting, the verdict is now announced. Lewis Hamilton faces disqualification from Friday’s qualifying session, while Max Verstappen walks away with a 50,000 euro fine. A disastrous result for Mercedes and their champion who now head to the Brazilian GP with a bigger disadvantage than they arrived with.

Hamilton’s FIA report came as a shock as the Mercedes driver was ecstatic with his lucky pole position. Moments later, it was announced that Verstappen was to see the stewards as well for breaching parc ferme rules. Now, as the results are out, Verstappen’s penalty does nothing to impede his race and championship run, while Lewis may not have the weekend he wants.

Why Max Verstappen was let away easy

On the surface, the violation didn’t seem as serious for Verstappen. While Hamilton faced a technical breach, Verstappen’s was only a violation of the sporting code.

The stewards analyzed Verstappen’s mishap: “It has become clear to the stewards that it has become a habit of the drivers to touch cars after qualifying and the races.” This was a common point of discussion as this wasnt the first time this has happened under parc ferme.

The most important claim was that Verstappen damaged the rear wing of the Mercedes. However, the referees denied such allegations, stating that the force Verstappen exerted on Hamilton’s DRS was “insignificant”.

Verstappen had presented the same point, and the stewards put the action aside as “harmless.”  Although Verstappen was left easy, the FIA has warned drivers of repeating this, as next time the repercussions will not be the same. So, from now, parc ferme will be under the scrutiny of the FIA.

Lewis Hamilton gets the downside

Having breached a technical regulation of the FIA mandate, Mercedes have made a costly mistake for themselves and the driver. The disqualification means that he will start the sprint race from the back of the grid.

The Stewards decide that car 44 failed the test indicated in TD/011- 19 and is therefore in breach of Art 3.6.3 of the FIA Formula 1 Technical Regulations.”

Further, Art 1.3.3 of the International Sporting Code states that “it shall be no defense to claim that no performance advantage was obtained”. Therefore, the Stewards ordered the usual penalty for technical non-compliance of DSQ from the qualifying session.

As Hamilton’s results add on to the heavy 5-place grid penalty he faces on Sunday,a possibility of changing rear wings to fix the problem risks putting him at the back of the grid as well. As the championship battle hits yet another turning point at the Brazilian GP, the scales tilt towards Max Verstappen and Red Bull. Will Hamilton make up for the damage incurred on him? Only Sunday’s race can tell.

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