FIA issues overtaking clarification

(GMM) FIA race director Charlie Whiting clarified to formula one drivers and team officials at Monza what is expected in terms of fair overtaking.

A furor was triggered after the Belgian grand prix one week ago, when Lewis Hamilton's victory was retrospectively taken away because he had passed Kimi Raikkonen shortly after cutting a chicane.

In the regular pre-race drivers' briefing at Monza, scene of Sunday's Italian grand prix, Whiting told the gathering that, if a driver negotiates a corner illegally and gains a place, he should wait at least one more corner after giving back the position before launching another overtaking move.

Red Bull driver Mark Webber said after the briefing: "Generally, it is pretty clear (now) for people to probably not attack immediately again, which wasn't mega, mega clear in the past."

It is understood that Whiting made clear his information was simply a clarification, rather than a new interpretation of the existing rule, or a new rule altogether.