Ralf Schumacher believes that 2021 would be better “without all this background noise,” from concerns about the cars to reviews of the penalties, or lack thereof.
When it comes to this year’s championship championships, Mercedes and Red Bull have taken the fight off the track and into the stewards’ office far too often.
With pit stops and engines in play, both teams have questioned the legality of each other’s cars. Then there’s the issue of penalty reviews, or the lack thereof.
The Sao Paulo Grand Prix had it all, with Lewis Hamilton being disqualified from qualifying when Red Bull once again brought Mercedes’ rear wing to the attention of the FIA.
That, however, was not the reason for his disqualification; the FIA discovered his DRS gap was greater than the allowed 85mm.
It’s uncertain whether Red Bull will file a protest against the W12’s rear wing before the end of the regular season.
While Mercedes was still smarting from Hamilton’s DSQ, Max Verstappen and Hamilton battled for the lead on the track, with Verstappen defending and sending both himself and Hamilton wide and off the track.
Despite the fact that a racer seemed to be pushed off the course, the stewards decided not to investigate, much less penalize.
After Hamilton won the race ahead of Verstappen, Mercedes announced that they had claimed the right to review the lack of a penalty.
On Thursday, at 5 p.m. Qatar time, that hearing will take place.
This year’s championship, which many consider to be one of the best ever, would be “nicer” if the team bosses left it to the drivers, according to Schumacher.
“Somehow understandable, but it’s a shame it continues like this,” he wrote on Instagram.
“Racing without all this background noise would be nicer.
“This of course applies to both sides!”
Mercedes and Red Bull will both be present during the video call hearing on Thursday.
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