F1 stewards made call without Verstappen’s front-facing camera

The F1 championship contenders were involved in their latest controversial incident of a dramatic 2021 season as they battled for the lead of the race in Brazil on Lap 48. 

Hamilton attempted to go around the outside of Verstappen at the Descida do Lago left-hander but Verstappen held his line, eventually forcing both drivers to briefly run off track. 

The incident was noted by the stewards who deemed no further investigation  was necessary, something which Mercedes boss Toto Wolff called “laughable”. 

FIA race director Michael Masi confirmed to media after the race that the stewards made their verdict without the availability of Verstappen’s front-facing camera. 

That moment when we all held our breath on Sunday

No quarter given #BrazilGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/GrN72yzRCP

— Formula 1 (@F1) November 14, 2021

The only footage the stewards had access to was Verstappen's rear-facing camera, trackside cameras, a helicopter shot and the forward-facing onboard from Hamilton’s car. 

Masi admitted the missing front-facing camera was “potentially” a key piece of evidence but “we didn’t have access to it.” 

“It hasn’t been obtained but it’s been requested,” Masi said. “That will be downloaded and we’ll have a look at them.”

Similar incidents of a driver running another out of road have resulted in a five-second penalty, but Masi refuted the suggestion that the stewards’ ruling highlighted inconsistencies. 

“I disagree that it’s inconsistent,” Masi argued. “You have a look at it and as I’ve said many times before you judge the incident on its merits and you have a look at all of it.

“And let’s not forget we have the overall ‘let them race’ principles and looking at it with all of the angles that we had available it was that philosophy that was adopted.”