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FIA Announce Penalty Verdict After Italian GP Practice Incident
The FIA have delivered their final decision following a controversial moment during Friday’s second practice session at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza. The stewards were called to investigate Sauber’s young driver, Gabriel Bortoleto, after a manoeuvre involving Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson raised questions about a possible breach of yellow flag rules.
The incident unfolded at Turn 6, just after Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli lost control of his car and slid off into the gravel, forcing local yellow flags to be waved. As Antonelli’s stricken car was being dealt with, Lawson had significantly reduced his speed. At that moment, Bortoleto seized the opportunity to pass him on the inside, making the move between the two Lesmo corners. The overtake immediately triggered suspicion, as overtaking under yellow flag conditions is generally prohibited in Formula 1.
Following the conclusion of FP2, the stewards carried out a detailed review. They examined multiple sources of evidence including video footage, GPS positioning, marshalling system data, as well as in-car camera angles. After their analysis, the officials determined that Bortoleto’s move did not breach the regulations under the specific circumstances. The FIA concluded that no penalty would be applied, clearing the Sauber driver of wrongdoing and allowing him to continue his weekend without any repercussions.
In contrast, Lewis Hamilton has not been so fortunate. The seven-time world champion is still facing consequences from last weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix, where he was found guilty of failing to comply with yellow flag rules. Unlike Bortoleto’s situation, Hamilton’s infraction was deemed clear-cut, and the penalty has carried over into this weekend’s race in Italy. He has been handed a five-place grid drop, which could significantly impact his hopes of securing a strong result for Ferrari at Monza.
The FIA later released an official statement to explain their verdict on Bortoleto’s case. It read: “The driver of Car 5 approached a yellow flag zone before Turn 7 with Car 30 in front of him driving at a significantly lower speed.” The clarification suggested that Lawson’s unusually slow pace, coupled with the dynamics of the yellow flag sector, created a unique scenario where Bortoleto’s move did not amount to an infraction.
With the matter resolved, attention now shifts to qualifying and Sunday’s race, where Hamilton’s grid penalty could play a major role in reshuffling the order. Meanwhile, Bortoleto will aim to use this reprieve as momentum in his rookie campaign.
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