Hamilton could be demoted 5 grid spots? No
The McLaren driver, as well as Jenson Button and Takuma Sato, received the penalty for breaching Article 25.3 of the sporting regulations by using more than one set of wet tires in morning practice.
10/19/07 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton and McLaren officials on Friday were waiting for a stewards' inquiry to be held at the Interlagos circuit at 4.30pm local time.
Ron Dennis admitted in Brazil that the Woking based team was responsible for breaching Article 25.3 of the sporting regulations by fitting more than one set of wet tires to the British championship leader's car in morning practice.
Super Aguri (Takuma Sato) and Honda (Jenson Button) made similar errors.
"Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button and Takuma Sato have used two sets of wet weather tires during the first free practice session which is breach of article 25.3 of the 2007 Formula One Sporting Regulations," the technical delegate's report to the stewards confirmed.
Team boss Dennis said: "We made a mistake and used one set of tires too many on Lewis's car.
"This was unfortunate and clearly did not provide any advantage."
He told reporters in the paddock that Hamilton only completed a single installation lap with one of the sets of tires, but that "it was clearly a breach of the rules".
"We are trying maybe too hard, and it was a silly mistake," Dennis admitted.
10/19/07 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton is facing a possible grid demotion after breaching a sporting regulation in morning practice at Interlagos on Friday.
The British championship leader, along with Jenson Button (Honda) and Takuma Sato (Super Aguri), will all be investigated by the stewards after the afternoon session for allegedly breaching article 25.3 relating to wet weather tires, BBC Radio Five Live said.
It is claimed that the trio used two sets of wet tires on Friday morning, where the rules say only one set may be used.
Article 25.3 reads: "No driver may use more than one set of wet and one set of extreme weather tires during P1 and P2".
BBC Radio said a demotion of five grid positions is a possible sanction, but the stewards may also consider a solely monetary penalty.
With just Sunday's Brazilian grand prix to go in 2007, Hamilton is four and seven points ahead of Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen respectively in the drivers' classification.