Mercedes requests 'Right of Review' of Verstappen/Hamilton incident!

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Just like Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes isn't giving up.

The Brackley squad has requested a right of review of the Briton's skirmish with Max Verstappen in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix based on "new evidence" - namely the new onboard footage from the Dutchman's car that was released on Tuesday.

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff warned last weekend that the gloves are off between his team and Red Bull and that "the time for diplomacy had ended".

Aggravated by Hamilton's exclusion from qualifying in Brazil due to a noncompliant rear wing on his Mercedes W12 and irritated by what he perceived as the fair amount of leeway given to Red Bull by the stewards regarding repairs to the rear wing of the latter's RB16B, and the leniency they showed towards Max Verstappen's defensive move against Hamilton at Interlagos Turn 4, Wolff is now determined to use everything in the book to counter its championship rival as the pair fight for supremacy.

And the Austrian is putting his money where his mouth is, with Mercedes demanding that the stewards revisit last Sunday's scuffle between Verstappen and Hamilton and judge the action based on the Red Bull driver's previously unreleased onboard video footage.

Mercedes announced its intentions through a post on Twitter.

"The Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team confirms that we have today requested a Right of Review under Article 14.1.1 of the International Sporting Code, in relation to the Turn 4 incident between Car 44 and Car 33 on lap 48 of the 2021 Brazilian Grand Prix, on the basis of new evidence unavailable to the Stewards at the tile time of their decision."

Read also: The missing Verstappen onboard footage everybody wanted to see

The wheel-to-wheel fight at Turn 4 between Verstappen and Hamilton in last Sunday's race immediately drew the scrutiny of the stewards.

However, although they did not have access to Verstappen's onboard footage, no further action was taken, and the Dutchman was left off the hook.

If Mercedes right of review is accepted, and the stewards overturn their judgement, the Red Bull driver could get hit with a retroactive time penalty that could alter the final results of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

However, it's unclear when the stewards will reconvene to have an official look at the onboard footage – the new evidence – and pass judgment, but a meeting could take place as early as this week in Qatar.

It's not over until the fat steward sings...

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.