Mercedes has officially lodged a Right of Review for last week's Monaco Grand Prix, team principal Toto Wolff confirmed. The Brackley-based constructor is keen to gain more insight into the penalties given to George Russell during an afternoon to forget for the Brit in the principality.
Background of the Penalties
Russell was one of several drivers adjudged to have broken the speed limit while entering the pit lane at the Monaco GP. Pierre Gasly was among them, with Alpine having seen a Right of Review go in their favour after it was found that the distance used to calculate speed in the pit lane was incorrect.
Inspired by the change of decision, Wolff confirmed in Barcelona that Mercedes are also pushing for Russell's punishments to be reversed. The German remarked: "Yes, we've asked for a right of review because we just simply want to sit at the table when decisions are being made."
And when asked if Mercedes ought to have taken action sooner, he replied: "No, I still think it's a long shot," likely because drivers who have served their punishment during the race cannot have it reversed afterwards under the sporting regulations.
Impact on Russell and Hamilton
Russell also received a drive-through penalty for not properly serving his original speeding punishment. Altogether, the punishments saw him drop out of the points and all the way down to 12th, a result that was damaging for his hopes of claiming the Drivers' Championship title.
Much like compatriot Russell, Hamilton was also penalised for speeding in the pit lane at Monaco, with the Brit having urged the FIA to investigate the matter. Speaking after the race, he said: "Yeah, I wasn't speeding, I think it's just the way the pit lane is. I've done this pit lane for years, it's not like I came in and didn't press the button or something like that.
"The pit lane limiter is on immediately, and I think it's just the line that you take, which is the same line we've all taken for years, where you come in, you kind of cut part of the white line.
"Head down, went out, and I was shocked to hear that I was speeding, because I wasn't actually above the speed. I think it's the distance, and it's something that we really need to look into, because I heard lots of people got that today, and they probably weren't really speeding.
"Having to do a stop and wait for five, 10 seconds, whatever people got, it destroys you on a track so short as well, your chances, so I'm thankful that it didn't impede me too much."
Mercedes' Next Steps
Mercedes are hoping to change the result of the race through the Right of Review process. The team remains determined to seek clarity and potentially overturn the penalties that affected their drivers' performances.
