Stewards decide not to penalise Lewis Hamilton, Felipe Massa for Japanese GP collision – Formula 1
Japanese Grand Prix race stewards have decided to let go Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa without a penalty, following their collision as the Brit was trying to overtake Massa on the left into a right hand corner.
Both Hamilton and Massa were in a fierce battle for fourth place when they made contact which resulted in minor damages to both cars, albeit they were able to continue the race.
The race stewards however investigated the incident and they decided not to take any action. The post race report on the FIA website explained the decision as, “Having viewed the video evidence in relation to the action of the driver of car three at turn
16 and after comparing the line that Lewis Hamilton took on the previous lap, and having noted that car six Felipe Massa was attempting to overtake on the left into a right hand corner the stewards decide to take no further action.”
Massa and Hamilton have not had the best of times on the racetracks in the ongoing season. At the previous 2011 Singapore Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, Hamilton hit Massa’s car from behind which resulted in damage for Hamilton’s car and a
puncture for Massa. The Brazilian was infuriated with the Brit for causing the collision and made no effort of hiding his feelings in the post-race presser.
On the other hand, Hamilton curbed any comments from him about the incident and focused more on improving his image for his fans, the stewards and the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA). Massa was naturally furious and wanted the stewards to do something
about Hamilton’s on-track behaviour.
Now at Suzuka, this incident has dented an already edgy relationship of the two drivers.
Hamilton spoke about the incident and said that he was not able to see Massa pulling alongside him. Massa though was blunt in his response, “I don't care, to be honest, about what he [Hamilton] said. The only thing I care about is what he did. He was so
slow in 130R and he stayed on the right-hand side.”
It remains to be seen how this torrid relation between the two drivers will pan out at future events. For now, the stewards have decided to let Hamilton have another lifeline based on the race footage.
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