Stewards clear Hamilton over off-track pass on Bearman

The stewards at the Brazilian Grand Prix ruled that Lewis Hamilton gained no advantage when he passed Oliver Bearman off the track. Hamilton let Bearman back through on lap seven, after the stewards had begun investigating the move.

The stewards said Hamilton had the momentum for the overtake and was forced wide when Bearman moved to the right to defend. They noted that the position was handed back, so no further action was taken. Stewards can issue five or ten-second penalties when a driver gains a place by leaving the track, although they do not order drivers to swap positions.

The ruling follows earlier cases in which stewards declined to penalise drivers for off-track passes that were not reversed, including Yuki Tsunoda's move on Lando Norris at last year's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.