Just In: FIA announce punishment decision after Hamilton incident at…read more
FIA announce punishment decision after Hamilton incident at…read more
The FIA has announced its decision following an incident involving Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz during qualifying for the Qatar Grand Prix. The event marked another frustrating chapter for Hamilton, who faced a challenging weekend overall.
The seven-time world champion struggled in both sprint qualifying and the sprint race, where his Mercedes teammate George Russell outperformed him. After these sessions, Hamilton expressed dissatisfaction, stating that he no longer felt fast and was ready for the season to end.
The incident in question occurred during Saturday’s qualifying session when Carlos Sainz was released unsafely from his pit box, putting him directly in Hamilton’s path. As a result, Hamilton had to take evasive action to avoid a collision. The stewards immediately noted the unsafe release, which led to an investigation and subsequent punishment for Ferrari.
The FIA found that a slight delay in the pit stop sequence caused by Sainz not being ready led to the unsafe release. The number one mechanic for Sainz’s car had prematurely signaled for the Spaniard to exit the pit box. In its official statement, the FIA confirmed: “The representative of Car 55 [Sainz] admitted that the Number 1 mechanic responsible for releasing Car 55, signaled the car to be released prior to the driver being ready. This resulted in a small delay which in turn resulted in the car being released into the path of Car 44 [Hamilton], requiring the driver of Car 44 to take avoiding action.”
As a result of the incident, Ferrari was fined €5,000. This penalty adds to the pressure on Sainz, who is set to be replaced by Hamilton at Ferrari next season. The clash in the pit lane between the two drivers has added a layer of intrigue to their impending team dynamics.
Despite the setback, Hamilton managed to secure P6 on the grid for Sunday’s race. Sainz, following the penalty, will start directly behind Hamilton in P7. The outcome of the Qatar Grand Prix qualifying session sets the stage for an intense battle between the two drivers, particularly as Hamilton transitions to Ferrari in 2025.
Hamilton’s struggles, combined with this pitlane drama, reflect a tough weekend for the veteran driver. However, his focus remains on finishing the season strong before moving to a new chapter with Ferrari.
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