BREAKING.: 12 drivers avoid F1 penalty for FIA rule breach that saw Lewis Hamilton demoted at Singapore GP… Read more

12 Drivers Escape FIA Penalty as Lewis Hamilton Demoted After Singapore GP Rule Breach

 

 

The 2025 Singapore Grand Prix ended in frustration for Lewis Hamilton, as the seven-time Formula 1 world champion was handed a post-race penalty that cost him valuable points. The FIA issued a five-second time penalty to the Ferrari driver for repeated track limit violations, which ultimately saw him demoted from seventh to eighth place after the final classification.

 

The weekend at Marina Bay had looked promising for Hamilton, who appeared confident in his Ferrari SF-25 throughout qualifying. He impressively outpaced his teammate Charles Leclerc on Saturday, giving Ferrari fans hope that he might finally seize a podium finish. However, things quickly turned around once the lights went out on race day.

 

Leclerc managed to get a perfect launch off the grid, overtaking Hamilton on the first lap and setting the tone for what became a difficult night for the British driver. Despite Hamilton’s efforts to reclaim the position, the race became increasingly challenging as he struggled with brake temperature issues. The problem worsened in the closing laps, leaving him vulnerable to Fernando Alonso, who closed the gap from over 30 seconds to just four-tenths of a second by the chequered flag.

 

The decisive moment came when Hamilton was shown the black-and-white flag after multiple track limit infringements. During the race, he was recorded going beyond the circuit boundaries at Turns 2, 5, and 16 — three separate violations that triggered the official warning flag. According to FIA regulations, the black-and-white flag acts as a final warning before stewards impose a time penalty for further offences.

 

Unfortunately for Hamilton, his troubles did not end there. On lap 54, he exceeded track limits again at Turn 17, marking his fourth breach of the rules. As per the FIA’s sporting code, this automatically triggered a five-second penalty. The punishment was applied after the race, demoting Hamilton one position in the final standings. Alonso, who finished just behind him on track, was consequently promoted to seventh place.

 

Despite the disappointment, Hamilton still managed to clock the fastest lap of the Grand Prix — an impressive 1:33.808 on lap 48 — ensuring he salvaged at least one additional point for Ferrari.

 

While Hamilton bore the brunt of the FIA’s penalty, he wasn’t the only driver to exceed track limits under the demanding conditions of the Singapore night race. In total, 12 drivers had at least one lap time deleted for similar infringements but managed to avoid further punishment. The list included Kimi Antonelli, Ollie Bearman, Max Verstappen, Alex Albon, Franco Colapinto, Nico Hülkenberg, Carlos Sainz, Esteban Ocon, Pierre Gasly, Lando Norris, Lance Stroll, and Charles Leclerc.

 

Rookie Ollie Bearman, driving for Haas, was one of the most frequent offenders after crossing track limits on three separate occasions at Turns 2 and 19. However, he appeared to heed the warning after being shown the black-and-white flag and avoided committing another infraction. Similarly, young Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, along with Verstappen, Albon, Colapinto, Hülkenberg, and Ocon, each exceeded limits twice but managed to remain within regulations for the rest of the evening. The remaining drivers — Gasly, Norris, Stroll, Leclerc, and Sainz — only had one lap time deleted, indicating that most were able to maintain cleaner racing lines under the tight Singapore street circuit conditions.

 

The Marina Bay circuit is notoriously challenging for drivers due to its combination of high humidity, narrow barriers, and unforgiving turns. Even minor mistakes can easily lead to overstepping the white lines, particularly during high-speed battles or under pressure from degrading tyres. The FIA has consistently enforced strict track limit regulations this season to ensure fairness and consistency, but the Singapore GP once again highlighted how demanding the rule can be in such conditions.

 

For Hamilton, the demotion is a setback after what looked like a resurgence in form with Ferrari. Nevertheless, his pace across the weekend — including that fastest lap — indicates that both he and the Scuderia are heading in the right direction. As the championship moves forward, the British star will aim to bounce back strongly in the upcoming rounds and turn his Singapore frustration into renewed motivation.

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