Mercedes fined for unsafe release of Hamilton

Hockenheim, Germany - Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes team were fined 10000 euros on Saturday (July 30) for his 'unsafe release' from the pits during the final free practice for Sunday's German Grand Prix.

The defending world champion escaped a reprimand or penalty, after being called to see the stewards following the incident in the early part of the morning session, when he was released from the Mercedes garage into the path of Frenchman Romain Grosjean's Haas.

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Grosjean had to bring his car to a halt to avoid a collision.

In a statement, the stewards said that the Mercedes team had admitted releasing Hamilton when it was unsafe to do so.

The Briton has already been reprimanded twice this season and a third reprimand would have brought a 10-place grid penalty.

Hamilton was second in final practice behind Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg.

He leads the world championship by six points after overhauling a 43-point deficit with five wins in six races, including a hat-trick in his last three outings.