Hamilton keeps British Grand Prix podium finish after yellow flag infringement

Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton will maintain his podium finish at the British Grand Prix after the stewards issued him with a warning for failing to slow under yellow flags.

Feature image credit: Pirelli

Hamilton finished his home event in third place after the British GP finished under the safety car, having been deployed after Red Bull’s Max Verstappen crash at Stowe on lap 48 of 52. However, it was under threat following a yellow-flag infringement.

Following the Silverstone conclusion, it has been revealed by the FIA that Hamilton will be able to keep his third-place finish at the British race as the stewards issued the seven-time world champion a warning.

It regarded an incident on lap 38, at turn nine, Copse, when a yellow flag was waved. The stewards had found Hamilton had entered the sector before a yellow flag, or its representative light panel, was shown.

His steering wheel only displayed the yellow flag warning when Hamilton was on his way to turn 10, which a green flag was already being displayed.

The stewards claimed no evidence showed that a yellow flag light panel warning within his immediate field of vision, and the steering wheel duration was only shown for a brief moment. This allowed them to agree that there was a limited amount of time for Hamilto to react to the yellow flag.

However, despite the warning, they believe Hamilton had not made a ‘discernable reduction of speed’ and therefore did not comply with the requirements under a yellow flag. As such a reprimand warning was given, his first of the season.

Leclerc wins British Grand Prix as Silverstone ends under Safety Car

In the stewards report, they said:

“HAM [Hamilton] entered the relevant sector before any yellow flag or yellow light panel was displayed, with no such indication present before Turn 9. The first light panel encountered after Turn 9 was displaying green immediately before Turn 10.

“The yellow indication on the steering wheel display only appeared once the driver was already on the straight towards Turn 10 and close to the end of the yellow flag zone. The evidence showed that there was no yellow light panel warning within the driver’s immediate field of vision and that the yellow indication on the steering wheel display remained visible for only a very short period.

“The Stewards were therefore satisfied that the time available for the driver to react to the yellow flag indication was very limited. The Stewards also accept that, immediately prior to entering the sector, HAM had been involved in an overtaking manoeuvre with VER and that the driver was expecting a counter attack.

“As a result, his attention remained directed to his mirrors for most of the straight towards Turn 10, rather than immediately towards the green light panel at the end of the sector. The Stewards took this into account when considering whether the visibility of the green light panel should itself have made it clear to the driver that he was still within a yellow flag zone.

“The Stewards nevertheless determine that, after the yellow had been displayed on the steering wheel display and the green light panel was illuminated immediately before Turn 10, HAM did not make a discernible reduction of speed and therefore did not fully comply with the requirements  applicable under a single yellow flag.

“In determining the penalty, the Stewards took into account that HAM had entered the sector before the yellow was shown, that the yellow indication reached the driver only when he was already near the end of the sector, that the time and distance available to react were very limited, and that the driver’s attention had, for understandable reasons, been occupied by the immediately preceding battle with another car.

“In those circumstances, the Stewards considered that a Reprimand was the appropriate penalty”

‘Software error’ prompts confusing Safety Car end to British Grand Prix

As a result of Hamilton’s third-place finish at the British GP, finishing behind his teammate Charles Leclerc and Mercedes’ George Russell, who won and finished second, respectively, meant the seven-time remains third overall in the drivers standings.

Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli remains the championship leader with 179 points, with Russell and Hamilton behind on 154 and 147 points, respectively.

Read more Formula 1 here:

• ‘Software error’ prompts confusing Safety Car end to British Grand Prix
• Leclerc wins British Grand Prix as Silverstone ends under Safety Car
• Chaos ensues in British Grand Prix LEGO Driver Parade
• What are the tyre strategies for the British Grand Prix?
• Pierre Gasly given grid penalty for impeding at British Grand Prix
• Russell final qualifying run ‘compromised’ ahead of British Grand Prix
• Kimi Antonelli takes pole position for the British Grand Prix

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Kamron Kent

Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.

I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

Kamron Kent

Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.