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US GP result challenged: these are the possible consequences for Perez
- Nicole Mulder
On Monday, the Formula 1 teams of Red Bull Racing, Aston Martin and Williams received a call from the FIA. They must appear at a virtual hearing on Wednesday at 15:00 CET in the presence of Haas F1, who are invoking their right to review. If Haas are vindicated and additional penalties are eventually handed out, this will have major implications for some drivers. Sergio Perez, in particular, would come off worst.
Results GP United States could be turned upside down
Haas has prepared a 28-page dossier to show that a lot of track limits were exceeded without being recorded. So the alleged violations were also not penalised, and the US F1 team disagrees.
It all revolves around turn six of the Circuit of the Americas. There, several drivers allegedly drove off-track several times. Alexander Albon was investigated for this, but the stewards took no action because they judged that there was insufficient evidence to "accurately and consistently conclude that violations occurred".
Should the FIA stewards indeed rule that retrospective penalties were handed out for exceeding track limits at turn six, the outcome of the race will be turned completely upside down. There will be no consequences for the top three, as Max Verstappen, Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz did not commit the alleged offences at the corner in question.
First, however, it remains to be assessed whether Haas have come up with sufficient new evidence to reopen the case. Only then will the cases be scrutinised and an investigation into the additional track limits violations possibly launched. That means the stewards could also still determine that there were no violations at turn six at all.
Protest at FIA could have major consequences for Perez
If Haas is vindicated, it would mean a storm of time penalties. Perez alone would face 18 five-second penalties in that case. Bizarrely, this would still not put him outside the top ten, though he would have to surrender his fourth place in exchange for 10th.
Albon and Lance Stroll, on the other hand, would end up outside the top ten. They would face 15 and 16 five-second penalties, respectively. George Russell, Pierre Gasly, Yuki Tsunoda, Nico Hulkenberg, Valtteri Bottas and Logan Sargeant, on the other hand, would benefit greatly from an adjusted result. Hulkenberg and Bottas would suddenly find themselves in the points, while the other drivers would all move up a place.
It would be the second time the results of this edition of the US GP have been adjusted. Initially, Lewis Hamilton finished second and Charles Leclerc fifth, but both the Mercedes and Ferrari driver were disqualified due to an overly worn plank under the floor.
Original results GP United States
1. Max Verstappen
2. Lando Norris
3. Carlos Sainz
4. Sergio Perez
5. George Russell
6. Pierre Gasly
7. Lance Stroll
8. Yuki Tsunoda
9. Alexander Albon
10. Logan Sargeant
New results GP United States if Haas are proven right
1. Max Verstappen
2. Lando Norris
3. Carlos Sainz
4. George Russell
5. Pierre Gasly
6. Yuki Tsunoda
7. Nico Hulkenberg
8. Valtteri Bottas
9. Logan Sargeant
10. Sergio Perez