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Lewis Hamilton starts the sprint from the very back despite the fastest lap
Photo: CARL DE SOUZA / AFP
Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton threatens a place at the very back of the starting grid at the Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday (6 p.m., TV: Sky, live ticker: SPIEGEL.de).
Before the sprint race on Saturday evening, in which the starting order for the following day is decided, the stewards of Hamilton's rear wing used in qualifying punished a technical violation.
The stewards of the world motor sport federation Fia accused the Briton of bending the rear wing too much on his Silver Arrow.
Measurements confirmed the suspicion.
The so-called Drag Reduction System (DRS) has given Hamilton an illegal advantage.
As a consequence, the Mercedes driver has to start the sprint from the end of the field after he originally secured first place on the grid.
Double disadvantage for Hamilton
The sprint races will be held on selected race weekends for the first time this season and will take place between the classic qualifying as the battle for the fastest lap and the Grand Prix on Sunday.
The results of the qualifying become the starting order for the sprint race, the results of the sprint race become the starting order for the main race.
Hamilton can lose double ground to World Championship leader Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) with the penalty transfer: The top three in the sprint race receive World Championship points.
For Hamilton these are now almost impossible to achieve, and Verstappen, who has moved up to first place on the grid, could pull himself away further.
At the same time, a good starting position for the race in São Paulo is unlikely, even if Hamilton is catching up in the sprint race, as an unauthorized engine change will cost the Briton five places on the grid anyway.
Fine for Verstappen
The Dutchman Verstappen, who is already 19 points ahead of Hamilton in the drivers' standings, can therefore take a big step towards his first world title.
Verstappen agrees that he only has to pay a fine of 50,000 euros for his own offense: Verstappen had touched the rear of both his own car and that of his competitor Hamilton in the Parc Fermé - both are prohibited by the regulations.
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cev / dpa