• Spanish Grand Prix

Reprimands for Hamilton and Button but no penalty

Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button escaped penalties in Spain © Getty Images

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• Report:
• Vettel holds off Hamilton in Barcelona
  

• Race:
• Spanish Grand Prix

• Championship:
• FIA Formula One World Championship

• Drivers:
• Jaime Alguersuari
• |
• Jenson Button
• |
• Lewis Hamilton
• |
• Mark Webber

• Teams:
• McLaren
• |
• Red Bull
• |
• Toro Rosso

Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button, Mark Webber and Jaime Alguersuari have all been reprimanded for their driving under yellow flags, but have not been penalised.

The four drivers were investigated after the race in relation to Heikki Kovalainen's accident at turn four, which caused yellow flags to be waved for a number of laps. Drivers are supposed to slow under yellow flags for the safety of the marshals, but the McLarens, Webber and Alguersuari are believed to have set a personal best time in that sector. However, McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh said his team's data proved his drivers had slowed for that corner but the cars had been quick elsewhere in the sector.

"We were able to show that they were slower at that corner than we had been, the data showed that they were," Whitmarsh told the BBC. "But I think the stewards still felt a reprimand was appropriate and I think they took a sensible view. Anyway, we move on now. We've got to make sure that we stay out of trouble, we do a good job, and it's only a few days before we get to Monaco."

He added that it had not been entirely clear cut as the yellow flags were being waved in a braking zone where the cars are already off throttle.

"It was in a part of the circuit where they weren't on throttle anyway," Whitmarsh added. "So that was the difficulty. Ordinarily you are having the debate and you can show a lift but when they are off throttle you can't show a lift, can you?"

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