Mercedes faced a financial penalty of €100 as Lewis Hamilton was found guilty of speeding in the pit lane during the 2023 Austrian Grand Prix.
The incident occurred approximately 20 minutes into the sole practice session at the Red Bull Ring, where Hamilton had initially set the fastest time before teams began their qualifying simulations.
The prescribed speed limit for the weekend in Spielberg was 80kph, equivalent to 49.70mph. However, Hamilton’s speed was recorded at 80.2kph, which translates to 49.83mph.
This is not the first time the seven-time World Champion has faced such penalties, as he was recently fined for exceeding the speed limit in Monaco.
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The pit lane speeding incident served as another setback for Mercedes during the Austrian Grand Prix.
In qualifying, Mercedes’ George Russell faced disappointment as he was unable to progress beyond Q2, finishing in 11th place, 0.477 seconds behind the pace set by Max Verstappen.
Hamilton, on the other hand, secured the fifth position on the starting grid but was forced to settle for it, trailing Verstappen by 0.428 seconds.
Both Ferrari drivers and Lando Norris in the McLaren managed to split the two fierce rivals.
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Despite the setbacks, the Mercedes team remains determined to bounce back and perform strongly in the race.
With Hamilton’s skills and experience, coupled with Russell’s hunger for success, the team will be aiming to maximise their chances of securing a podium finish.
The Austrian Grand Prix promises to deliver high-speed action and intense competition, with Mercedes looking to overcome the challenges they have faced and emerge as strong contenders.