Mercedes believes the decision to halt Formula 1’s British Grand Prix most likely prevented Lewis Hamilton from joining Max Verstappen in retirement.
Hamilton and Verstappen collided at Copse on a frantic opening lap at Silverstone in which they battled for the lead on several occasions.
Verstappen was pitched into a heavy accident following the contact and the race had to be suspended to the damage to the tyre barrier.
Mercedes was able to evaluate Hamilton’s W12 during the race suspension and he restarted from second place, behind Charles Leclerc, going on to pass the Ferrari driver in the closing stages.
![Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri [McLaren] celebrate their 1-2 finish at the 2025 F1 Austrian GP](https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Lando-Norris-Oscar-Piastri-McLaren-F1-2025-1-120x86.webp)
“We’d failed the rim, where we’d had the contact on the front left, so that would have been a DNF had it not been red-flagged,” said Mercedes’ trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin.
“But the rest of the damage was remarkably little – it was a tyre temperature sensor that had got knocked loose so was waggling around.
“But it was the least important part on the front wing and it was the only [bit] that broke.”
Hamilton received a 10-second time penalty for the contact but still went on to overhaul long-term leader Leclerc in order to take victory.
Shovlin outlined that Mercedes felt the penalty harsh.
“We didn’t think the penalty was deserved, if you look at the guide that the stewards have to determine who’s at fault in terms of overtaking, Lewis was sufficiently alongside and we felt Max should have given him room,” he said.
“If you look at the sprint race and the opening lap Lewis was constantly having to back out of it to avoid a collision and he was able to put his car into a position where he could stand his ground.
“Max drives aggressively and it’s inevitable that one day we’re going to get an accident.”
![Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri [McLaren] celebrate their 1-2 finish at the 2025 F1 Austrian GP](https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Lando-Norris-Oscar-Piastri-McLaren-F1-2025-1-350x250.webp)
![Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri [McLaren] celebrate their 1-2 finish at the 2025 F1 Austrian GP](https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Lando-Norris-Oscar-Piastri-McLaren-F1-2025-1-360x180.webp)
This is for all race drivers
If you cause an incedent during a race and one driver out of the race due to your actions
You should be suspended for the race as well so that no driver benifts.
Never seen this Fiabrule 8n any book. So Stop writing fake news
If that happened many years back then Red bull should not be racing. The red Bull and Max Verstapen are bad loosers and they act like spoiled brats, when you lose a race don’t swear at the opponents, the incident was a clear race incident. Horner is not showing leadership qualities, Max have been bumping all cars on the track with his recklessness and there was not this big noise, their driver Perez bumped a car twice in the same race but there was not so much noise. RED BULL WAKE UP, FORMULA 1 WAS THERE MANY YEARS BACK AND YOU ARE NOT EXCITING ALL OF US BUT YOUR A DISGRACE. to Lewis keep on focusing and do the job well done.
The operative word is should.
It’s an opinion not a rule or fake headline.
Maybe you SHOULD READ MORE CAREFULLY
Never seen this Fia rule in any book. So Stop writing fake news
Hamilton is a dog. Resorting to dirty racing. Dog act.
Your drivers have been bumping other cars on the track and you were quiet, if Lewis is a dog and what are you and your ever cry babies, max is a spoilt brat who must start dating women his age, he acts like a kid because he is a child in his house. it is not the first time we see a racing car with Red bull, they were nowhere to be seen for the last 7 years and Mercedes was winning and the team was very quiet. now this year only 20 points gap and now we hear noises. Mercedes is a big car, that is an AMG and not Honda, what is honda? Horner grow up you are not exciting many of us. Lewis and Mercedes keep on RESPECTING your opponents but be aggressive and fair on the track.
The operative word is should.
It’s an opinion not a rule or fake headline.
Maybe you SHOULD READ MORE CAREFULLY
Interesting how so many people who probably barely passed their driver license have such strong opinions.
The race stewards have ruled on the incident, and yet these armchair amateurs are throwing their opinions around like they they’re the professionals. Hamilton took his medicine and won the race fair and square.
Quit your whining.
Oh and BTW, Hamilton 7, Verstappen 0.
Move into Hungary.