FIA clarify corner ruling
The FIA have clarified the rule that has sparked controversy this week, following Lewis Hamilton’s corner-cutting manoeuvre in last Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix.
In a drivers’ briefing at Monza ahead of tomorrow’s Italian Grand Prix, race director Charlie Whiting cleared up the confusion.
If a driver now cuts a corner or chicane and gains a place, he not only has to give the position back, but also wait a corner before attempting a subsequent overtaking move.
The debate has raged over the past few days after Hamilton cut the final chicane at Spa, passing Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen to gain the lead in the process.
Although the McLaren driver immediately allowed the reigning world champion to pass along the start-finish straight, he then overtook the Finn at the next turn, the La Source hairpin.
Hamilton went on to win the race, but was subsequently demoted to third two hours after the race after a three-man panel of stewards handed out a retrospective 25-second drive-through penalty.
Speaking on the clarification, Red Bull Racing driver Mark Webber said: “It is pretty clear for people to probably not attack immediately again, which wasn’t mega, mega clear in the past.”
