Michael Schumacher fined, Lewis Hamilton and others cleared at Suzuka practice – Formula 1 news
Michael Schumacher is facing a fine of €5000 for a late entry into the pits at Suzuka, although Lewis Hamilton and three other drivers, who ignored yellow flags, have been cleared.
The stewards at Suzuka called Schumacher and after going over the footage, made the decision that Schumacher had gone on the wrong side of a bollard and made a late pit entry resulting in a penalty.
Schumacher should feel a bit lucky as he was in breach of the sporting regulations, but the stewards gave him the benefit of the doubt and slapped him with a monetary fine, because it occurred during a practice run.
The three other drivers, Sebastian Buemi, Heikki Kovalainen and Bruno Senna were also summoned by the stewards for their yellow flag infringements during the second practice, when Hispania Racing Team driver Tonio Liuzzi lost his way at the Spoon Curve and
the car came to a halt. This incident forced the yellow flags but the three drivers ignored the warning and were able to set their best sector times.
The footage did show that the four drivers had slowed down for the incident and thus the stewards did not feel it was a matter of penalising them and let them off with just a warning considering it was a practice run.
Hamilton, who has already been under scrutiny for his on-track behaviour and other incidents relating to collisions, and is looking to improve his relationship with the stewards this season, said, “After P2, the stewards were looking at my data after Liuzzi
parked his car at the exit of Turn 14 - but I did a slower sector time and didn't use DRS or KERS, so it should be okay.”
It was only Friday Lewis spoke about how he has been making a few mistakes and is working on curbing them, and this incident would not play in favour of his apparent mending ways.
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