The Austrian Grand Prix stewards will review their decision not to penalise Lewis Hamilton for failing to slow when yellow flags were shown during the closing minutes of Formula 1 qualifying, following a protest by Red Bull.
A mistake for Hamilton’s Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas saw the Finn take to the gravel on his final lap in Q3, bringing out yellow flags.
Hamilton, who was immediately behind Bottas on track, improved on his lap time despite the yellow flags, prompting the stewards to summon him.
They decided no action was necessary as conflicting flags were shown, with the digital LED screens flashing yellow, whilst the marshals were waving green flags – this was backed up by onboard footage from Hamilton’s car.
Hamilton says he only saw the green flags and chose to remain on the power, believing Bottas had already rejoined the track.
“I came round the corner, I got on the power and I thought that Valtteri perhaps had just gone wide and come back on the track further up the road,” explained the Briton.
“I was looking out for the gravel on the track and for a car on the track, but there was nothing there so I continued. Then I saw as I was going into, I think it was to Turn 6 that Valtteri was much further to the left.”
Red Bull has protested the stewards decision and the matter will therefore be reviewed.
Bottas took pole for the race with Hamilton in second, just 0.012s adrift, with Max Verstappen third and Alexander Albon fifth.
