Formula 1: Lewis Hamilton keeps German Grand Prix win following investigation

Lewis Hamilton will keep his fourth victory of the 2018 Formula 1 season in the German Grand Prix following an investigation.

Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport’s Lewis Hamilton earned his fourth victory of the 2018 Formula 1 season in the season’s 11th race, the German Grand Prix, at the Hockenheimring. However, that win was called into question after the race.

During a safety car period that took place as a result of Scuderia Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel crashing in turn 12 while leading the 67-lap around the 17-turn, 2.842-mile (4.574-kilometer) Hockenheimring in Am Motodrom, Hockenheim, Baden-Württemberg, Germany with just 16 laps remaining, Hamilton, who started the race in 14th place, was called into the pits.

However, Hamilton’s Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas, who inherited the lead from Vettel following his crash, was already in the Mercedes pit box, so Hamilton had to stay out on the track. Because Vettel’s Ferrari teammate Kimi Raikkonen also came into the pits from second place, Hamilton inherited the lead.

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But the way by which Hamilton took the lead before going on to win the race caused a post-race investigation to take place.

There was question as to whether or not Hamilton would remain the winner of the German Grand Prix and thus the lowest starting winner of a Formula 1 race since Fernando Alonso won the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix after starting in 15th place. Hamilton was forced to start the German Grand Prix in 14th after a disastrous qualifying session that resulted in a hydraulics issue.

Hamilton got on the pit lane entry road before deciding to say out on the track. He cut across the grass separating the pit lane entry road from the track itself, thus inheriting the lead since Bottas and Raikkonen pitted from first and second place, respectively. While he didn’t pass anybody illegally, his move from the pit lane entry road across the grass and onto the track did violate the FIA International Sporting Code.

However, despite the fact that Raikkonen was given a five-second penalty for a similar incident in the 2016 European Grand Prix, Hamilton was not penalized and will keep his victory.

Here is what the stewards’ explanation of why Hamilton was not penalized says, according to Motorsport.com.

"“It was clear that there was an infringement of the above mentioned rule – the driver clearly crossed the line separating the pit entry from the track.“In deciding on the penalty for the infringement, we took into account the following mitigating factors.“(i) The driver and the team candidly admitted the mistake and the fact that there was confusion within the team as to whether to stay out or to enter the pits and that led to the infringement.“(ii) The fact that the infringement took place during a Safety Car period.“(iii) At no time was there any danger to any other competitor and the change in direction was executed in a safe way.“Taking all of the above into account, including considering previous infringements of the above rule, we are of the opinion that a reprimand would be the appropriate penalty for the said infringement on this occasion.”"

Hamilton won the race by 4.535 seconds over Bottas in second place and 6.732 seconds over Raikkonen in third, meaning a five-second penalty would have given Bottas the win and demoted Hamilton to second.

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Do you believe that Lewis Hamilton deserves to keep his victory in the German Grand Prix, or should he have been penalized? Should Valtteri Bottas have been considered the official winner of the race instead of his Mercedes teammate?

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