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Lewis Hamilton has escaped penalty after FIA stewards probed his alleged erratic driving whilst leading the field behind the safety car at Fuji Speedway a week ago.
After hours of deliberation, stewards finally ruled that the 22-year-old championship leader, who earlier on Friday issued a veiled threat to quit Formula One over the controversy, was not to blame for the collision between Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel.
In the light of amateur video footage that was posted on YouTube, the Briton had been facing a ten-position grid penalty for Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix, or even a points deduction.
Toro Rosso's Vettel, however, has had his ten-position penalty reduced to a formal reprimand, the stewards said.
Following that meeting, the stewards stated: "Having heard the explanation of all concerned and viewed both the original film of the incident which was available to stewards at Fuji as well as the new film, what has become apparent is the view clearly expressed by all drivers and team managers alike that the conditions at Fuji were exceptionally bad and worse than those experienced when the race starts behind the safety car."
"Because of those views, the stewards accept that it may be inappropriate to impose the penalty normally applied for an offence such as this."
"In the circumstances the stewards will reduce the penalty imposed on Vettel to a reprimand."
"The involvement of Lewis Hamilton in this incident has also been considered in the light of evidence given by him, his team manager and in particular all other parties present and no penalty is imposed upon him."
This should lay to rest all the LH conspiracys!
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