Race contact, the stewards do not penalize Russell
The finishing order of the Japanese GP does not change: the commissioners have in fact decided to do not intervene in the controversial collision at the Triangolo chicane which saw the protagonists George Russell And Oscar Piastriwho were fighting for seventh position on the track.
The Mercedes Englishman forced a late attack on the inside, causing a slight contact between the two cars and pushing the Australian to cut the chicane. The suspicion was that of an irregular maneuver on the part of #63, which could haveforced off track” McLaren. In the end, however, the stewards decided not to penalize Russell by five seconds, also taking into account the opinion of the same teams involved in the contact.
The official press release
In the official document released by the FIA to explain the choice not to sanction the maneuver, the factors taken into consideration were clearly explained. Below is the full translation of the press release:
“There are some matters that, based on the 'comfort level' criterion used by the International Court of Appeal in accepting evidence, we accept as facts:
1) That the driver of car 63 did not “dive” and was in control entering turn 16.
2) That at the entrance to turn 16 the front axle of car #63 was in front of the mirrors of car #81. Therefore, according to driving standards, car #63 was entitled to 'racing space' at Turn 16.
3) That car #63 bounced off the inside curb and then collided with car #81 (based on photographic evidence presented by car #81).
4) That the driver of car 81, having felt the impact with car 63, took evasive action by leaving the track rather than risk another collision with perhaps more serious consequences.
5) That the driver of car 63 left sufficient space at the exit of turn 16 so that car 81 could negotiate the curve while remaining on the track.
6) Car 81 crossed the chicane and returned to the track ahead of car 63 safely.
Driving standards, however, are silent on what action is required of a driver who leaves the track to avoid a collision or who, forced off, re-enters the track safely and maintains his position. Not that this is a determining point, but we also note that both drivers and team representatives agreed that this incident did not justify the imposition of any penalties“.
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