The FIA Stewards – who this week include Emerson Fittipaldi and Teddy Mayer’s son Tim – have given unusually detailed explanations as to why Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso all escaped punishment after the two dramatic incidents involving the race winner.
With regard to the Button/Hamilton collision – which put Lewis out of the race – they said:
The Stewards have reviewed the Incident involving Car 3 (L. Hamilton) and Car 4 (J. Button) on their 7th lap of the race. The Stewards reviewed the lines of several cars, including the two cars involved, using multiple angles of video evidence over several laps, the speed traces of both drivers, the GPS tracking data from the cars and have heard the drivers and team representatives.
The Stewards concluded that:
Exiting Turn 13 there was a legitimate overtaking opportunity for Lewis Hamilton as his speed was greater than Jensen Button’s.
Both drivers took lines substantially similar to many of the other drivers, and did not move as far to the left as the preceding driver, Michael Schumacher. At the moment after Hamilton moved to the left to pass, Button looked into his mirror. It appears from the position of Hamilton at that moment [and is confirmed by the drivers] that Button was unlikely to have seen Hamilton.
At the point of contact Button had not yet moved as far to the left of the track as he had on the previous lap, or that Schumacher had on that lap. The Stewards have concluded that it was reasonable for Hamilton to believe that Button would have seen him and that he could have made the passing manoeuvre. Further, the Stewards have concluded that it is reasonable to believe that Button was not aware of Hamilton’s position to his left.
Therefore, the Stewards decide that this was a “racing incident” and have taken no further action.
One intriguing point here is that the ‘drivers’ (ie both) evidently explained that Lewis was in Jenson’s blind spot, which begs the question why Hamilton took the risk of putting his nose in there in the first place…
In the case of the Alonso incident, they reported as follows:
The Stewards have reviewed video evidence and heard from the drivers and team representatives regarding the incident on Lap 38 at Turn 3 between Car 5 (F. Alonso) and Car 4 (J. Button.)
Car 5 was on an out lap having pitted. Car 4 appeared to be firmly established on the inside line prior to the entry of the corner and drove onto the kerb to avoid Car 5 on the outside.
In view of the conditions and the statements by both drivers and their team representatives, the Stewards decide that this was a “racing incident” and have taken no further action.
Adam Cooper F1 
The right decisions and more importantly I hope they offer these types of reports going forward. I think in the past instead of hearing “the stewards had more evidence” reports like this would have been more satisfactory to fans.
That’s a bunch of BS, Button drove out of his way to make sure Hamilton couldn’t go around. It’s called blocking.
Good thorough report. Sometimes, a racing incident is just that. Given the apalling conditions its a wonder we didn’t have more.
button looked in his mirrors to the left twice before the crash.
Its just a racing incident ….caused by the driver in front blocking.
These guys are not “the best drivers in the world”they are the “most blockers in the world”
ha, with people like Schumacher and Massa out there, I find your comment comical. Button nor Lewis are very good blockers, because frankly, they rarely have to. That’s the difference between has beens like Massa and Schumacher, and good drivers like Button and Hamilton.
I concur with the above comment, I would love to see this steward info publicly available for all investigations.
I think you’ll find Button used to do the same when he had bad equiptment BAR days when they said he was just in it for money,and you only have to look at Hamilton at the moment never his fault it’s alway the car or machinery.Not sure on Massa but think he’ll come good .Schumacher can only do wrong no matter what he does?once Mercedes give him decent car i think he’ll be Ok.{good drivers} check the record books ,suppose the likes of Hakinnen,Senna,Prost never blocked either.
Yes they should make steward info public.
Hope they produce reports like these for all races.
+1 I think after the problems at the Monaco GP, they’ve wisely decided to put not only their decision in writing but the reasons for the decision. If this practice continues it keeps their opinions from being abitrary.
it very much looks to me that Button saw Hamilton coming… it is quite easy to see that there would be no point in Hamilton claiming so and to potentially affect His teammate’s win without having any benefit!
I wonder if the people accusing JB of blocking have ever looked in the mirrors of a racing car in wet conditions. He would have seen absolutely nothing.