Formula 1 news: As if the 2021 F1 season hasn’t already been a rather crazy one, we reached Brazil to find out that the teams are running late on setting up shops as the freight got delayed/stuck in Miami, two days before the start of the Brazilian GP weekend.

Fast-forward to Friday, right after FP1 got underway, we got a formal confirmation from Mercedes that it has installed a fifth brand-new ICE in Lewis Hamilton’s W12 as Brackley clearly struggles to find out answers for its sudden engine reliability issues.

Soon after, the conventional Quali got over with Lewis Hamilton on Pole and archnemesis Max Verstappen alongside him in P2. But it was in that moment in the pitlane that all hell broke loose. And I mean all of it.

Hamilton had already been due a five-place grid drop because of his engine change, Mercedes & Red Bull have already been on each other’s toes for several races to become the better team, and it was only taken one step further in Sao Paulo…

Formula 1 news: It all started for Lewis with a note

On Friday, FIA’s Technical Chief, Jo Bauer, sent a small note to the racing stewards present at the track stating that he didn’t find Lewis’ rear wing to be in compliance with the Sporting Regulations.

In the said note, Jo wrote, “The requirement for the minimum distance was fulfilled. But the requirement for the maximum of 85mm, when the DRS system is deployed and tested in accordance with TD/011-19, were not fulfilled.”

To put it simply, the maximum gap between the two wing elements was found to be bigger than expected. Article 3.6.3 of F1’s Technical Regulations mentions that when the DRS is in function mode, that is when it is active, the maximum gap between the elements must be between 10mm to 85mm. However, Bauer found out that the gap was bigger than what had been mentioned in the rulebooks.

You could argue that if the gap was 1mm more than expected, it wouldn’t make much of a difference, but in all honesty, the bigger the gap, the more straight-line advantage you get. And a track like Interlagos is huge.

Formula 1 news: What does Mercedes has to say

Mercedes is keeping its mouth shut until everything is confirmed. That said, there can only be either of the ways – either it is a manufacturing defect, or the team made a mistake. Later in the evening, the FIA decided to impound Lewis’ rear-wing assembly and put the same under a seal until matters were thoroughly discussed.

Whatever the reason may be, it is pretty damn clear that a technical infringement was made. While we wait for Lewis’ decision, I can tell you this – the penalty for such kind of a breach goes only in one of the two ways – a straightforward DSQ or a pit-lane start.

In case Lewis is awarded a DSQ, what this means is that he will be disqualified from yesterday’s Quali, meaning he will be starting today’s Sprint from the back. And in case of a pit-lane start, well, we all know what that means. However, a point worth mentioning is that Lewis also has his original five-place grid drop, which he will be serving tomorrow, in the Grand Prix, regardless of where he finishes today. We await his decision.

Formula 1 news: And what did Verstappen do now

Max has been on Lewis’ toe for the majority of the season now, and he only seemed to have taken it up a notch in the pitlane.

Just like some drivers do, Verstappen too, was looking here and there, at his car, the rear wing, and then he did something which he shouldn’t have done in the first place, but couldn’t resist doing that either.

He touched the untouchable – Max put his precious fingers on Lewis’ rear wing, the area for which Hamilton has been summoned. This might not look at a big issue to you, but it is, as FIA’s International Sporting Code explains:

“Inside the Parc Fermé, only the officials assigned may enter. No operation, checking, tuning or repair is allowed unless authorised by the same officials or by the applicable regulations.” – Article 2.5.1.

It is very clear and evident that the reason why Lewis has been summoned to the steward’s WASN’T the fault of Max. Sure, he touched the wing, sure he shouldn’t have touched it, but there’s no way he should be held responsible.

Formula 1 news: What’s the verdict

Well, that is the only thing I cannot tell you at the moment. Simply because the Stewards haven’t themselves said anything yet. I swear to God, at this rate, even Bottas’ ‘five-day pitstop’ from Monaco seems to be not long enough.

That said, we already know that Verstappen has met with the stewards, and judging by the images, he has been given an official reprimand and been told to not do anything of that sort ever in the future. As for Lewis, he too, met with the officials, it was a 45-ish minute meeting, but on his side, it all remains a bit unclear as I type this.

However, something in me strongly suggests that Verstappen is safe. He must’ve been given a formal reprimand and told not to ever do that again in life. As for Hamilton, I believe Mercedes knows that he’s been either DSQued or have to start from the pitlane because his FP2 session indicated that he’s thinking about the long runs. We wait, just like you. Sigh.

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