The FIA Stewards took the following opinion.
The incident concerned started when Car 6 dropped into an incorrect power
mode, as set by the driver prior to the start. This created a significant power
differential between Car 6 and Car 44 at the exit of Turn 3 coming onto the
straight, resulting in as much as a 17kph speed difference between the two cars
on the straight. Car 6 moved to the right to defend his position, as is his right
under Art 27.7 of the Sporting regulations. Simultaneously Car 44 as the
significantly faster car with, at that time, apparent space on the inside, moved to
make the pass. Art 27.7 requires the leading driver to leave room, if there is a
“significant portion” of the car attempting to pass alongside. Car 44 had a
portion of his front wing inside Car 6 small fractions of a second prior to Car 44
having to leave the right side of the track to avoid an initial collision, which may
have led him to believe he had the right to space on the right. Once on the grass
on the side of the track Car 44 was no longer in control of the situation.
Having heard extensively from both drivers and from the team, the Stewards
determined that Car 6 had the right to make the maneuver that he did and that
Car 44’s attempt to overtake was reasonable, and that the convergence of
events led neither driver to be wholly or predominantly at fault, and therefore take
no further action.