Red Bull: Video on social media led to Hamilton penalty review

A video disseminated on social media late last Saturday night prompted Red Bull Racing to ask the Austrian Grand Prix stewards to review once again Lewis Hamilton's yellow flag infraction in qualifying.

After reviewing the incident in which Hamilton was suspected of failing to slow at the final corner in the yellow flag zone, the stewards took no further action on Saturday evening, awarding the Mercedes driver the benefit of the doubt and mitigating circumstances.

But the 360-degree video which appeared later that evening on social media triggered comment which was brought to the attention of Red Bull.

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On Sunday, the team inquired with the FIA about whether the stewards had seen the incriminating footage or not.

"It was pointed out to us on social media that there was a different camera angle, the 360 camera," explained team boss Christian Horner, quoted by Motorsport.com.

"It showed very clearly there had been a yellow light box that had been driven through and it only seemed consistent with Mexico [when Max Verstappen was punished for ignoring yellows].

"So we asked the FIA to have another look at it. They said they hadn't seen that footage previously. So, for whatever reason, they hadn't had the access or hadn't looked at that camera.

"So I think having looked at that, and reviewed it, it then became a very clear decision for them."

The video, which you can hereunder, provided evidence that Hamilton had indeed infringed the yellow flags and the six -time world champion was demoted from second to fifth on the Austrian Grand Prix grid.

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