A YouTube clip that is central to the stewards’ inquiry into Lewis Hamilton’s alleged erratic driving at Fuji Speedway last Sunday has been removed from the popular video-sharing website.
Even though the less than 20-second clip was captured privately by a Japanese spectator in the grandstands, YouTube said on Thursday that it is “no longer available due to a copyright claim by Formula One Management” (FOM).
While FOM can and does legitimately claim ownership of official formula one broadcast footage, the copyright to private recordings is by law possessed by the owner of the recording device unless a separate agreement is reached.
A copy of the original clip was, however, copied prior to its removal and can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QJurnfxRm4
Moments before Sebastian Vettel hit Mark Webber from behind, it depicts Hamilton following the safety car before dramatically swerving and slowing down.
Stewards are currently reviewing the footage and will reportedly interview the McLaren driver before making a decision about a possible penalty on Friday.
The Daily Telegraph cited the prospect of a ten-position grid penalty, which would severely dent Hamilton’s chances of winning the Chinese grand prix and therefore securing the drivers’ title on Sunday.
The newspaper also quoted Jenson Button as on Thursday joining Webber, Vettel, Alonso, Nick Heidfeld, Franz Tost and others in criticising Hamilton’s driving.
“When I was behind him it felt really inconsistent,” the Honda driver said.
“I don’t know what he was doing really. He came through the last section and he kept slowing down. He knew the safety car wasn’t coming in and he kept hitting the brakes hard in the last sector so everyone would bunch up. Then he’d shoot off and brake again.”
