Hamilton cleared of blocking Grosjean, keeps British GP pole

Lewis Hamilton will keep his pole position for Formula 1's British Grand Prix after being cleared of blocking Romain Grosjean in Q3 at Silverstone

Hamilton cleared of blocking Grosjean, keeps British GP pole

Grosjean was left furious after feeling that he had been impeded by Hamilton on the left-hand turn into Club as he finished his first run in the final shootout session.

The Haas team suspected Grosjean had lost around three tenths of a second in the incident and would have beaten Stoffel Vandoorne to ninth place.

Although the race stewards launched an investigation into the matter, their analysis of the situation was that while Hamilton had got in Grosjean's way, he had not cost the Frenchman anything.

A statement issued by the FIA said: "The stewards examined video and telemetry evidence and concluded that while GRO may potentially have been affected by the presence of HAM at Turn 16, he was not impeded."

Prior to the stewards' decision, Hamilton had already apologised to Grosjean and claimed he had received no warning from his Mercedes team over the radio that the Haas driver was approaching him.

"I was coming around to start my lap, Valtteri [Bottas] up ahead, I was trying to get the space," said Hamilton.

"Behind me was one of the Force Indias, who then came in, so there was no one behind me.

"Literally as I was about to get on the gas I looked in the mirror and saw a car, and I tried to get going.

"I don't know if I got in the way, if I did I apologise.

"I had no indication from the team that anyone was coming. I need to look at the footage.

"I don't think he was that close when I pulled away, but I will have a look."

PROVISIONAL BRITISH GP STARTING GRID:

Pos Driver Car Time Gap
1 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1m26.600s -
2 Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 1m27.147s 0.547s
3 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 1m27.356s 0.756s
4 Max Verstappen Red Bull/Renault 1m28.130s 1.530s
5 Nico Hulkenberg Renault 1m28.856s 2.256s
6 Sergio Perez Force India/Mercedes 1m28.902s 2.302s
7 Esteban Ocon Force India/Mercedes 1m29.074s 2.474s
8 Stoffel Vandoorne McLaren/Honda 1m29.418s 2.818s
9 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 1m27.376s 0.776s
10 Romain Grosjean Haas/Ferrari 1m29.549s 2.949s
11 Jolyon Palmer Renault 1m30.193s -
12 Daniil Kvyat Toro Rosso/Renault 1m30.355s -
13 Carlos Sainz Jr. Toro Rosso/Renault 1m31.368s -
14 Felipe Massa Williams/Mercedes 1m31.482s -
15 Lance Stroll Williams/Mercedes 1m42.573s -
16 Kevin Magnussen Haas/Ferrari 1m42.577s -
17 Pascal Wehrlein Sauber/Ferrari 1m42.593s -
18 Marcus Ericsson Sauber/Ferrari 1m42.633s -
19 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull/Renault 1m42.966s -
20 Fernando Alonso McLaren/Honda 1m30.600s -


shares
comments

Grosjean: Hamilton 'completely blocked' me in British GP qualifying

Fernando Alonso pins British GP hopes on F1 'chaos' at Silverstone

How F1's new era has exposed the downside of its most important rule

How F1's new era has exposed the downside of its most important rule

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Jonathan Noble

How F1's new era has exposed the downside of its most important rule How F1's new era has exposed the downside of its most important rule

What next for Mercedes in its quest to get back to the top of F1?

What next for Mercedes in its quest to get back to the top of F1?

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Saudi Arabian GP
Alex Kalinauckas

What next for Mercedes in its quest to get back to the top of F1? What next for Mercedes in its quest to get back to the top of F1?

Why Piastri’s F1 homecoming will be a landmark occasion

Why Piastri’s F1 homecoming will be a landmark occasion

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Australian GP
GP Racing

Why Piastri’s F1 homecoming will be a landmark occasion Why Piastri’s F1 homecoming will be a landmark occasion

The recent Australian GP form history that will boost Ferrari in F1 2023

The recent Australian GP form history that will boost Ferrari in F1 2023

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Australian GP
Alex Kalinauckas

The recent Australian GP form history that will boost Ferrari in F1 2023 The recent Australian GP form history that will boost Ferrari in F1 2023

The cycle of F1 upheaval Williams must end to rediscover past glories

The cycle of F1 upheaval Williams must end to rediscover past glories

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
GP Racing

The cycle of F1 upheaval Williams must end to rediscover past glories The cycle of F1 upheaval Williams must end to rediscover past glories

The state of play in F1's technical silly season

The state of play in F1's technical silly season

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Jake Boxall-Legge

The state of play in F1's technical silly season The state of play in F1's technical silly season

Ranking the top 10 pre-war grand prix drivers

Ranking the top 10 pre-war grand prix drivers

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Kevin Turner

Ranking the top 10 pre-war grand prix drivers Ranking the top 10 pre-war grand prix drivers

Why drivers are the least of Ferrari’s F1 worries

Why drivers are the least of Ferrari’s F1 worries

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
GP Racing

Why drivers are the least of Ferrari’s F1 worries Why drivers are the least of Ferrari’s F1 worries