Lewis Hamilton has been fined €5,000 and given a €20,000 suspended positive for undoing his seat belt on the slowing down lap of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

Video footage from Hamilton’s automotive confirmed him take away his shoulder straps to wave to the gang and choose up a Brazilian flag from a marshal after profitable the race from tenth on the grid.

The second was harking back to Ayrton Senna’s 1991 victory on the identical circuit after he received his first Brazilian Grand Prix.

The stewards famous that Hamilton eradicating his belts was a an alleged breach of Appendix L Chapter III Article 4 of the FIA Worldwide Sporting Code, which states, “Drivers should be correctly restrained of their seat by security belts in conformity with the technical laws for the car involved, always throughout a contest when it’s cellular on a circuit, pit lane, particular stage or competitors course.”

The monetary positive got here with the next rationalization: “The driving force of automotive 44, Lewis Hamilton, undid his seat belts on the in-lap on the finish of the race. Whereas the Stewards are sympathetic to the will to have fun, it’s essentially unsafe to undo the seatbelts whereas the automotive is in movement. Gradual speeds in these vehicles are very quick for an unrestrained occupant.

“Additional, Components One drivers set the instance for junior classes. It’s vital that junior class drivers study the significance of utilizing all the protection units of the automotive always.”

Nonetheless, Charles Leclerc accomplished two laps finally yr’s Spanish Grand Prix with out his belts on throughout the race and was not investigated for the incident nor have been there any repercussions when video footage emerged of the incident.

The positive capped off a busy race weekend for the stewards, who disqualified Hamilton from Friday’s qualifying outcomes after his automotive failed a check on the rear wing’s drag discount system.

Max Verstappen was additionally fined €50,000 on Saturday morning for touching Hamilton’s automotive as he inspected the rear wing of the Mercedes in parc ferme after qualifying.