BREAKING: FIA Delivers Penalty Decision Following Hamilton and Sainz Inc… Read more
FIA Reveal Penalty Decision Following Hamilton and Sainz Incident at Miami Grand Prix
The FIA have delivered their official verdict on the collision involving Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz during the latter stages of the 2025 Miami Grand Prix, ultimately deciding that no penalties would be issued to either driver.
The incident in question occurred at Turn 17 as the battle for eighth place intensified. Sainz, driving for Williams, made a move down the inside of Hamilton’s Ferrari, resulting in a light contact between the two cars at the apex of the corner. The stewards investigated the incident for a potential breach of Appendix L, Chapter IV, Article 2 d) of the International Sporting Code, which governs on-track conduct and driver behavior.
After reviewing the footage and data, the stewards concluded that both drivers bore partial responsibility. According to their assessment, Sainz had not established a sufficient position to claim the racing line into the corner. At the same time, Hamilton turned in earlier than his usual trajectory, effectively shutting the door and hindering Sainz’s opportunity to complete the pass. With both drivers contributing to the incident, the stewards ruled that it was a racing incident, and no further action would be taken.
This outcome means Hamilton has avoided any time penalties or reprimands, preserving his race result. The ruling also reflects the FIA’s continued emphasis on judging incidents with a balanced approach, especially when multiple parties are involved and the infraction is not clearly one-sided.
Despite escaping sanction, Hamilton had a turbulent race in Miami—not just because of the on-track duel with Sainz but also due to visible tension with his Ferrari team. Throughout the race, Hamilton was heard expressing growing irritation over the team’s hesitancy in executing team orders. The seven-time world champion spent a considerable amount of time stuck behind teammate Charles Leclerc, which he believed compromised his pace and race strategy.
Eventually, Ferrari instructed Leclerc to let Hamilton through, but the delay in making that call did little to improve the Briton’s mood. Once the order was finally carried out, Hamilton voiced his frustration over the team radio, saying, “Have a tea break while you’re at it, come on!”
His sarcasm didn’t end there. Later in the race, after being informed that Sainz was 1.4 seconds behind him, Hamilton quipped, “Do you want me to let Sainz through as well?”—a remark that underscored his dissatisfaction with the team’s decision-making throughout the Grand Prix.
After the race, Hamilton addressed the situation in an interview with Sky Sports F1, offering context to his comments. “I lost a lot of time behind Charles, and in that moment, for sure, I was like, ‘Come on, let’s make a decision quick, let’s not waste time,’” he explained. “I’m sure people didn’t like certain comments, but you’ve got to understand, it’s frustrating.”
Hamilton’s remarks reflect the pressure cooker atmosphere inside Ferrari as the team continues to grapple with maximizing performance while managing internal dynamics. With the season progressing, Ferrari will be under scrutiny not just for their pace, but for how they handle the complex relationship between their star drivers.
As for the on-track contact with Sainz, the FIA’s verdict has drawn a line under the incident, allowing both drivers to move forward without penalty as the championship battle heats up.
