An attempt by the Formula One team Haas to get a full review opened up into alleged track-limits breaches at the United States Grand Prix will be heard on Wednesday (November 8). Red Bull, Williams and Aston Martin have all been summoned to the right of review meeting relating to the October 22 race in Austin via a video call that will take place at 2pm UK time. If the review is granted it could lead to an investigation that could alter the result of the race. But what is a right of review and why are Haas requesting it? Express Sport has everything you need to know.
What happened?
The United States Grand Prix took place in Austin, Texas on October 22. Haas drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen finished outside the points in 11th and 14th respectively.
Max Verstappen was the race winner, finishing more than 10 seconds ahead of McLaren’s British driver Lando Norris. But during last weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix, it emerged that Haas had officially requested a right of review into the result of the US GP.
Why does Haas want to change the result?
Williams driver Alex Albon finished ninth at the United States Grand Prix but not without some controversy. The 27-year-old was given a five-second penalty during the race after he accrued four instances of leaving the track (exceeding track limits) without justifiable reason.
However, the Thai-British driver escaped punishment for further alleged breaches on Turn Six of the circuit.
A statement from race stewards at the time said: “Based on the video footage available (which did not include CCTV), the Stewards determine, whilst there might be some indication for possible track limit infringements in Turn Six, the evidence at hand is not sufficient to accurately and consistently conclude that any breaches occurred and therefore take no further action.”
Haas is challenging this because Hulkenberg only finished three seconds behind Albon and if the Williams driver were to retrospectively receive another five-point penalty, Haas would earn a point for Hulkenberg moving up to a 10th-place finish.
Albon is the only driver named in the right of review case, but Red Bull and Aston Martin have also been asked to attend, suggesting that there could be further infringements under review.
What happens next?
As per the rules of a right-to-review request, the stewards must determine at the hearing on Wednesday whether any new evidence has come to light that provides a “significant and relevant new element” that was not available to Haas at the time of the original decision.
If it is found at the meeting that there is sufficient new evidence then the case will be reopened and investigated in a second hearing at a “time to be advised”. But if stewards disagree with the appeal from Haas then the case will be dismissed and the original race result will stand.
What will happen if Haas are successful?
If the case is reinvestigated and the findings of Haas are proved to be correct then the final race standings could be altered. Should Albon be found to have exceeded track limits once more on Turn Six he could be slapped with another five-second penalty that would bump him out of the top 10, moving his team-mate Logan Sargeant up to ninth and Hulkenberg to tenth.
There could be other drivers implicated given that both Red Bull and Aston Martin have been summoned to the hearing as well. Sergio Perez was seen running wide over the white track line during the race in footage shared on social media. Lance Stroll was the only Aston Martin driver to finish the race, taking seventh place.
