A photo of Lewis Hamilton appearing to be seizing the rear wing of Sergio Perez's Red Bull after last Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix has caused some unfounded speculation.
The picture which went viral on the internet show Hamilton and physio Angela Cullen passing behind Perez's car in an area that may have been part of F1's parc fermé after the race in Barcelona.
Per Article 2.5.1 of the FIA's International Sporting Code, is strictly forbidden for drivers or team personnel to touch or check a car while in parc fermé, or without the authorization of the assigned officials.
Last year in Brazil, that rule was contravened by Max Verstappen when he clearly touched the rear wing of Hamilton's Mercedes, a fault that cost Red Bull a hefty $50,000 fine!
In Barcelona however, it's unclear if Hamilton was effectively walking through parc fermé. But a video posted on social media by @LuisArochi24 suggests that the seven-time world champion was merely squeezing his way behind the Red Bull and did not touch the car at any time.
That’s my video/photo, it’s still not clear weather he touched it or not but he clearly was taking a close look to it pic.twitter.com/uSPZuXiCvv
— Luis Arochi (@LuisArochi24) May 24, 2022
According to reports, it is believed that the picture was taken as Hamilton - who was no longer in his overalls - was returning from the Circuit de Catalunya's medical center where he had undergone a routine doping test.
So, much ado about nothing...
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