As the debate rages regarding whether Lewis Hamilton will adhere to Formula 1 's ban on jewellery, the Mercedes star could find himself punished for a new offence.
F1 enforces strict rules against drivers or crew members getting too close with the cars of rivals teams. To that end, concerns were sparked that Hamilton had overstepped the mark while edging past one of Red Bull 's RB18s soon after the Spanish Grand Prix.
Footage uploaded by Twitter user Luis Arochi makes it difficult to tell whether the seven-time world champion actually came into contact with the rival machine. Titleholder Max Verstappen was fined €50,000 (£42,500 today) when he touched the rear wing of Hamilton's car while it was in parc ferme after qualifying at last year's Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
That may have contributed to Hamilton controversially losing pole at Interlagos after the DRS on his rear wing was adjudged to have opened too far. Verstappen started at the front of the grid in his place, although Hamilton nonetheless came back from 10th to win in Brazil.
“Inside the parc ferme, only the officials assigned may enter," reads Article 2.5.1 of the FIA’s International Sporting Code. "No operation, checking, tuning or repair is allowed unless authorised by the same officials or by the applicable regulations.”
Tensions between nemeses Hamilton and Verstappen will always be a talking point, particularly after December's title-decider in Abu Dhabi. However, Mercedes' slumped start to the 2022 season means the former currently poses little threat to Verstappen, who leads the drivers' standings and is 64 points ahead of seventh-placed Hamilton.
Where do you think Lewis Hamilton will finish the 2022 season? Let us know in the comments section.
Despite there being history between the pair in this domain following last year's squabble in Brazil, the consensus appears to be that Hamilton's brush in Barcelona was far more innocent. F1 broadcaster Will Buxton said this latest footage "doesn’t look comparable to the Verstappen Brazil incident."
"Appears he’s just walking through," he added. "You’re normally not supposed to enter parc ferme, regardless of whether you’re a driver or not, but this doesn’t appear to be the hoopla being suggested.”
Mercedes have also denied any wrongdoing on behalf of their star and said in a statement to GPBlog : "Some people seem to think he is touching the wing, but his hand isn't on it. At each end of the flap, you can see the white dot for legality - and the bracket which allows the flap to pivot when the DRS opens. Some people seem to think one of those brackets is his thumb - but it's clearly not, as it's the same on both sides."
