Breach of rules leads to probe

F1 News : Lewis Hamilton was under investigation last night for breaching Formula One regulations by using two sets of wet-weather…

F1 News: Lewis Hamilton was under investigation last night for breaching Formula One regulations by using two sets of wet-weather tyres during yesterday's first free-practice session here for the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Article 25.3 of the Formula One sporting regulations dictates that drivers can use only one set of wet tyres during a session, and the race stewards were asked to discuss the breach after yesterday's second practice, held in depressing wet conditions.

Honda's Jenson Button and Super Aguri's Takuma Sato were accused of the same infringement, for which the FIA has no set punishment.

McLaren said they had simply made a mistake but they were waiting anxiously to learn what, if any, sanction the world championship leader would face.

READ MORE

Kimi Raikkonen demonstrated his remarkable wet-weather ability by setting the fastest time in the first session, edging out his Ferrari team-mate Felipe Massa.

Massa was upbeat about his second-fastest time, after which came Heikki Kovalainen's Renault, Nico Rosberg's Williams, Hamilton's McLaren and Ralf Schumacher's Toyota, the German driver having his final outing before leaving the Japanese team.

Bernie Ecclestone, Formula One's commercial rights holder, said he was doubtful whether David Richards' Prodrive organisation would be on the grid next season.

The British-based team's plans to enter F1 in 2008 are on hold in the wake of Williams' threat of legal action if the newcomers enter the contest using cars built by McLaren.

  • Guardian Service