Mercedes request right to review over Verstappen defence

Mercedes has requested a right to review in relation to Max Verstappen's defence of the lead against Lewis Hamilton at the São Paulo Grand Prix.

Verstappen forced both drivers off-track on lap 48 of the race at Interlagos with Hamilton attempting to take the lead around the outside at turn four.

The stewards' failed to penalise Verstappen at the time, after declining to even investigate the matter.

The decision was deemed "laughable" by Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff who stated he was "losing faith" in the stewards, who did not have Verstappen's onboard view available during the race.

FIA race director Michael Masi suggested the release of the footage would be the "smoking gun" for the incident and just hours after the video was released, Mercedes has requested a review.

A statement from the team reads: "Mercedes-AMG F1 Team confirms that we have today requested a Right of Review under Article 14.1.1 of the International Sporting Code, in relation to the turn four incident between car 44 [Hamilton] and car 33 [Verstappen] on lap 48 of the 2021 Brazilian Grand Prix, on the basis of new evidence unavailable to the stewards at the time of their decision."

Lando Norris and Sergio Perez were both penalised five seconds for forcing another driver off the track at the Red Bull Ring earlier this year and should the same consequence be applied here, Verstappen would fall behind Bottas to third in the race classification.

pic.twitter.com/IdArUenBce

— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) November 16, 2021

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