Ferrari have been fined by the FIA following a procedural mistake involving Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc during Friday’s practice sessions at the Belgian Grand Prix, although both drivers have avoided any sporting penalties.
The issue emerged after the second free practice session at Spa-Francorchamps when FIA Technical Delegate Jo Bauer referred Ferrari to the stewards. The investigation centred on the team’s handling of tyre returns to Formula 1’s exclusive tyre supplier, Pirelli.
Under FIA regulations, teams must electronically register and physically return a specified number of tyre sets before the next session begins. While Ferrari completed the electronic confirmation for two tyre sets from both Hamilton’s and Leclerc’s cars, the tyres had not actually been delivered to Pirelli as required. The discrepancy triggered an official investigation into the team’s compliance with the sporting regulations.
The incident quickly attracted attention in the Formula 1 paddock, with some fearing Ferrari’s oversight could carry more serious consequences. Sky Sports F1 analyst and former Aston Martin strategist Bernie Collins pointed out that a similar offence in the past had resulted in a grid penalty, leading to speculation that Hamilton and Leclerc could face sanctions ahead of qualifying.
After reviewing the circumstances, the FIA stewards concluded that the error was solely the responsibility of Ferrari’s operations rather than the drivers. As a result, neither Hamilton nor Leclerc received a grid drop, penalty points, or any other sporting punishment.
Instead, the FIA imposed financial penalties on Ferrari. Two separate steward decisions were issued, one for each car, with the Scuderia receiving a €5,000 fine for each breach of the tyre return procedure. The combined penalty leaves Ferrari with a total fine of €10,000.
The ruling allows Hamilton and Leclerc to continue their Belgian Grand Prix weekend without any impact on their qualifying positions or race prospects. Although the mistake proved to be an expensive administrative error, it does not affect Ferrari’s competitive standing at Spa.
The decision also serves as a reminder of the strict operational standards teams must meet throughout a Formula 1 weekend. Even minor procedural lapses can result in investigations and financial penalties, despite having no direct influence on on-track performance.
For Ferrari, the focus now shifts back to extracting the best possible result at Spa-Francorchamps while ensuring similar administrative errors are avoided in future race weekends.
