BREAKING: FIA Announce Lewis Hamilton penalty verdict after…read more
FIA Issues No Penalty to Lewis Hamilton Following Alex Albon Impeding Incident in Saudi GP Practice
Lewis Hamilton has been cleared of any wrongdoing by Formula 1’s governing body, the FIA, following an incident during Free Practice 2 at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in which he was accused of impeding Williams driver Alex Albon. Despite Albon’s frustrated reaction over team radio—where he described the incident as “dangerous”—the stewards ultimately determined that no penalty was warranted.
The moment unfolded at Turn 17 on the high-speed Jeddah Corniche Circuit, where Hamilton appeared to obstruct Albon during a flying lap. The Thai-British driver was visibly frustrated, swerving to avoid Hamilton and vocally expressing his displeasure over the team radio, stating that the Ferrari driver’s positioning was hazardous.
However, following a detailed review, the FIA stewards summoned both Hamilton and Albon for explanations. In their post-session decision, the stewards acknowledged that Hamilton had “unnecessarily impeded” Albon. Yet, they chose not to penalize the seven-time world champion because the move was not deemed to have put either driver in real danger.
Albon later clarified that while he was initially surprised to find Hamilton in his path at that section of the circuit, he had seen him earlier and maintained control of his car throughout the encounter. That statement was a key factor in the stewards’ final verdict.
“The action was not considered dangerous,” read the official statement. “While Hamilton did impede the Williams car at Turn 17, Albon confirmed he had the situation under control and there was no imminent threat of a collision.”
Earlier on the same day, Hamilton had drawn attention from former Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz, who issued a cautionary reminder to the Briton about choosing appropriate sections of the track to let faster cars through. It was a subtle nod to Hamilton’s ongoing adjustment to Ferrari after spending over a decade with Mercedes.
Hamilton’s transition to the Scuderia has so far been a mixed bag. Despite the hype surrounding his high-profile move, his results have yet to match expectations. After four rounds in the 2025 season, the British driver has collected just 25 points and currently sits seventh in the drivers’ standings, behind his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc.
With the FIA investigation behind him and no penalty issued, Hamilton will now shift his focus to the remainder of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend. As he continues to find his rhythm with Ferrari, he’ll be aiming to turn his season around and mount a stronger challenge in the upcoming qualifying session and Sunday’s race.
The Jeddah street circuit, known for its unforgiving nature and fast layout, offers a challenging stage for Hamilton to make a statement and reignite his campaign.
