F1 News: Lewis Hamilton Slapped With Staggering Fine After Qatar GP Error
Lewis Hamilton faced a robust investigation from the FIA stewards for two distinct incidents during the eventful Qatar Grand Prix. Despite his Lap 1 retirement from the race, the seven-time World Champion encountered scrutiny for his role in the collision with George Russell and his hasty return to the pits, resulting in a hefty fine and a reprimand.
Key Takeaways
- Lewis Hamilton's attempted overtaking manoeuvre around teammate George Russell led to a collision, spinning both cars, but was deemed a typical "Lap 1, Turn 1" incident by stewards, absolving all drivers from sole blame.
- Post-crash, Hamilton's dash back to the pit lane across an active track contravened Article 26.7 (b) of F1’s Sporting Regulations, attracting staunch criticism and a hefty fine for endangering himself and other drivers.
- The Mercedes driver was handed a €50,000 fine (with €25,000 suspended) and a reprimand, signalling a stern warning against any further infractions this season, which could precipitate severe penalties in accordance with F1 regulations.
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In a scene of unexpected chaos, Hamilton’s ambitious overtake around the outside led to a collision with Russell, subsequently leading to the Mercedes champ’s early exit. The stewards remarked:
“Cars 44 [Hamilton], 63 [Russell] and 1 [Verstappen] entered Turn 1 three-wide with [Hamilton] trying to make a move on [Russell] around the outside. When turning in, the rear-right wheel of [Hamilton] made contact with the front left edge of [Russell], causing [Hamilton] to spin off track.”
Yet, it was concluded that no single driver was wholly at fault, labelling it a quintessential “Lap 1, Turn 1” incident, thus forgoing additional actions.
Hamilton's other notable infraction emerged when, after the crash, he sprinted back to the pit lane across the live track which was under safety car conditions, seconds before [Russell] zoomed out of the pits, violating vital safety protocols. The verdict illuminated:
“After crashing out of the race in Lap 1, [Hamilton] abandoned his car in the gravel and ran back to the pits. He thereby crossed the track that was live at this time and reached the inside edge of the track just seconds before [Russell] arrived at high speed after exiting the pits.”
Acknowledging the peril his actions could have caused, Hamilton presented apologetic sentiments during the hearing.
In a consequent decision, Hamilton was dealt a €50,000 fine and a reprimand. Notably, €25,000 of the fine is suspended on the condition that Hamilton avoids further violations through to the season’s conclusion.
