Hockenheim: Lewis Hamilton revealed he was confident after his meeting with stewards following the German Grand Prix that his race win would stand, as they investigated the incident on which his victory had turned in Hockenheim.
Hamilton won after a remarkable drive from 14th on the grid, but the British driver had to wait more than two-and-a-half hours for his victory to be confirmed.
The pivotal moment in the race came under the safety car prompted by Sebastian Vettel’s crash. Hamilton’s Mercedes team called him in and then out of the pits and the British driver opted to trust his instincts and stay out, veering from the pit entry and cutting the line separating it from the track. He could have received a time penalty for the offence which would have cost him the win.
“It’s not going to be taken away,” he said after he had been summoned to the stewards but added that it had been a difficult end to an exceptional race. “No one wants to go and see the stewards, they have the hardest job but this has been an unbelievable day,” he said. Shortly afterwards his win was confirmed in a statement from the FIA.
He was issued with a reprimand with the stewards’ decision based on three mitigating factors: that Hamilton admitted the mistake and it had occurred because of confusion in communication; that it was during a safety car period; and that no other competitor was put at risk by the manoeuvre.
The moment was vital: had he pitted he would have lost track position and the victory would have gone. “It was a confusing second and a half,” he said. “I thought I was going to stay out and they said ‘come in’. I said: ‘Are you sure?’ and then they said: ‘Stay out.’”
He believed his position was recognised by the stewards. “They asked me to explain what happened and I was 100 per cent apologetic. They could see and hear how confusing it was,” he said. The decision to finally go with his own judgement proved crucial.
He was also particularly proud of coming back after a trying weekend. “Today is one of the most unbelievable days for me. I prayed as I always do before the race and my prayers were really answered, it freaks me out a little bit and to see the biblical storm afterwards ... The rain has come down and washed away the negativity. It’s a glorious day, one I’ll always remember.”
— Guardian News & Media Ltd