F1’s teams have been warned of a new risk of penalties if they decide to visit the stewards at a race without being invited.
According to reports, FIA race director Michael Masi wrote to each team following the British GP to make it clear that visiting the stewards, will only be allowed by prior approval or with an official summons.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff and Red Bull’s Christian Horner both made trips to the stewards’ room during the red-flag period at Silverstone after a collision between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen on lap one.
However, the incident was under investigation at the time, and so neither Team Principal had been asked to attend.
Immediately after the incident, both teams had contact Michael Masi via the team radio to fight their corner – Red Bull’s Horner blamed Hamilton for the collision while Wolff tried to defend his driver, giving his opinion on the matter.
Masi could then be heard over the radio telling Wolff to visit the stewards himself and so Horner followed his lead, but spoke after the race and said, “I don’t think the stewards should be interfered with.”
It is understood that Masi’s letter to each of the teams now warns that unsolicited visits to the stewards will result in penalties going forward this season.
