Their second appeal was over Verstappen nosing ahead of Hamilton a number of times on the lap before the restart. At restarts after safety-car periods, lapped cars are normally allowed to pass the leaders and un-lap themselves so they do not interfere with the race. Masi allowed the drivers between Hamilton and Verstappen to pass them, giving Verstappen a clear run at his rival. But did not do the same to the cars between Verstappen and third-placed Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari. In this case, the race was started at the end of the same lap. Had both rules been applied in this way, Mercedes argued, Hamilton would have won the race.

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