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Lewis Hamilton will keep his second place on the Austrian Grand Prix grid after the Formula 1 stewards decided against taking action over a potential yellow flag rule breach in qualifying.
Reigning champion Hamilton had been summoned over failing to slow for the yellow flags went out by his Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas going off the road and through the gravel in the middle part of the circuit on his final flying lap in Q3.
But the stewards accepted that a green flag signal was also showing at the time.
“The driver mentioned that he passed a green light panel in Turn 5,” said the stewards’ verdict.
“The video footage confirmed that there have been yellow flags and green light panels at the same time and therefore conflicting signals were shown to the driver.
“Taking this into account, the stewards decide to take no further action.”
The stewards did decide to delete one of Hamilton’s lap times over a track limits infringement at the final corners, but this did not affect his position as it was not on his best lap.
Bottas held onto pole despite his trip off the road, with Hamilton – who had been fastest in all three practice sessions – starting alongside him.
