SUZUKA, Japan -- Mercedes has lodged a protest against the result of the Japanese Grand Prix based on the way Max Verstappen defended his position on the penultimate lap of the Japanese Grand Prix, but the hearing has been deferred until the U.S. Grand Prix when both drivers can be present.
Hamilton was closing on Verstappen in the final five laps of the race and attempted to make a move at the final chicane on lap 52 of 53. As he moved to the inside, Verstappen mirrored the Mercedes to block the overtake and Hamilton had to take swerve to the left and into the run-off area in order avoid a collision.
The stewards held a hearing on Sunday night in Suzuka but by that time both drivers had left the circuit and were not able to give their version of events. As a result the stewards of the Japanese Grand Prix have delegated their authority to the stewards of the U.S. Grand Prix in two weeks' time when the hearing will be held.
"The Stewards convened a hearing of the Protest lodged by Mercedes AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team against the driver of Car 33, Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing," read an FIA statement on Sunday night. "The protest was lodged in accordance with Article 13.4.4 of the International Sporting Code.
"At the commencement of the hearing the Stewards noted that neither driver was in attendance and hence was unable to give or refute any evidence. After hearing initial comments by representatives of Mercedes, the Stewards decide that in order to ensure fairness and afford both drivers the opportunity to be heard, the matter should be deferred and in accordance with Article 11.9.2.s of the International Sporting Code, the Stewards delegate their authority to the Stewards of the 2016 United States Formula One Grand Prix. Both team representatives agreed to this."
The move did not appear to be in breach of the FIA's specific rules about how to defend position, but Mercedes claims the 19-year-old drove "erratically and in a dangerous manner".
"A protest has been lodged by Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team against car 33 driven by Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing relating to an alleged breach of Article 27.5 of Formula One Sporting Regulations, in that he allegedly drove erratically and in a dangerous manner, forcing car 44 to take evasive action at turn 16," the steward's original statement said. "The Stewards are conducting a hearing. The results are still provisional."
After the race, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff had spoken about the need for clarity over Verstappen's driving.
"I'm biased obviously, and you will be surprised by my response. At heart I'm a racer and I love hard racing, and he's refreshing, he defends very hard, but the rulebook says something else, the rulebook says you can't move under braking.
"It hasn't been penalised until now, so I think we just need to know what is permitted or not, again, from my perspective, hard racing is OK."
Although the rule cited by Wolff does not exist in the regulations, it will be up to the stewards in Austin to decide whether Vertsappen's defence could be seen to be in breach of Article 27.5.
The relevant section of Article 27.5 reads as follows: "At no time may a car be driven unnecessarily slowly, erratically or in a manner which could be deemed potentially dangerous to other drivers or any other person. This will apply whether any such car is being driven on the track, the pit entry or the pit lane."
Verstappen's driving has been questioned before by his rivals after he made similar moves while defending position from Kimi Raikkonen at the Hungarian and Belgian Grands Prix. Although neither move was investigated -- let alone penalised -- FIA race director Charlie Whiting had a private chat with Verstappen at the Italian Grand Prix to discuss the incidents.