FIA announce Lewis Hamilton penalty verdict after …read more
The FIA has delivered a penalty decision following an investigation into Lewis Hamilton’s actions during the 2025 Australian Grand Prix. The opening race of the season was marked by unpredictable weather conditions, which created chaos throughout the event. Many drivers, including rookies and veterans, faced difficulties on the wet track, resulting in multiple crashes. Isack Hadjar, Jack Doohan, Carlos Sainz, Fernando Alonso, Gabriel Bortoleto, and Liam Lawson all found themselves out of the race at various points. McLaren also struggled in the changing conditions and saw their positions drop as the rain intensified towards the end.
Oscar Piastri experienced a significant drop in the standings, falling out of the top 10, but he fought back to finish in P9. In contrast, Lando Norris capitalized on the tricky conditions and made a successful comeback to win the Australian Grand Prix. Hamilton, however, did not enjoy a successful debut with Ferrari. As the rain poured down at Albert Park, Hamilton found himself slipping down the order, ending up at the tail end of the top 10, alongside teammate Charles Leclerc. He finished the race in 10th place, after a late overtake from Piastri around Turn 9, although it could have been much worse for the seven-time world champion.
After the opening lap, which saw a safety car period, Hamilton came under scrutiny from the stewards for failing to maintain the required 10-car-length distance behind the safety car. He wasn’t the only one in trouble, as Fernando Alonso, Yuki Tsunoda, and Liam Lawson were also noted for similar infringements. Despite these issues, none of the drivers, including Hamilton, were penalized.
The FIA reviewed data from the positioning/marshalling systems, video footage, and in-car video evidence. Although the distance between Hamilton and the car ahead exceeded the 10-car-length requirement at one point, the stewards took into account the difficult weather conditions and the fact that Hamilton had restored the proper gap before the restart. These factors were seen as mitigating circumstances, and as a result, no penalty was imposed.
In conclusion, despite a minor infringement regarding the safety car rules, Hamilton and the other drivers involved in similar incidents avoided penalties due to the challenging weather conditions and their quick correction of the issue before the race resumed.
