As the Formula One world championship battle keeps intensifying every passing race, Mercedes on Tuesday asked for a review of the overtaking incident involving title leader Max Verstappen and challenger Lewis Hamilton on Lap 48 of the Brazilian Grand Prix. 

Verstappen was leading Sunday’s race during the said incident when Hamilton tried to overtake him on Turn 4 and appeared to be pushed wide off the track by the Dutchman. However, both the drivers avoided contact and were able to continue as Hamilton overtook Verstappen for good on Lap 59 at Interlagos to win and slash the Dutchman’s overall lead to 14 points.

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At the time, stewards noted the incident but quickly concluded no further action was necessary as they considered it a racing incident.

“I think it was a good battle,” Verstappen said after the race. “I mean we both of course tried to be ahead into the corner so I braked a bit late to get that position. I was on the edge of grip. That’s why I think I was already on the apex and it’s a safer way of running a bit wide there. In a way, I was happy stewards decided we could keep on racing.”

Hamilton appeared to shrug it off in his post-race press conference.

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“I didn’t think too much of it and obviously I’ll have to watch the replay, but it’s hard battling and wouldn’t expect anything less really,” the seven-time world champion said, according to Associated Press. “We didn’t touch wheels, which is good.”

However, at the time, on-board footage from Verstappen’s car wasn’t available and it couldn’t be determined if the 24-year-old intentionally pushed the Briton wide. The visuals were acquired on Tuesday, following which Mercedes decided to appeal “on the basis of new evidence unavailable to the stewards at the time of their decision.”

There are three races left in a thrilling championship battle heading into Sunday’s inaugural Qatar GP. If the review concludes there was wrongdoing on Verstappen’s part, he could potentially be hit with a grid penalty for that race or a five-second time penalty.

With inputs from the Associated Press