The FIA have announced the punishment verdict for Ferrari F1 star Lewis Hamilton after an investigation was launched at the Austrian Grand Prix.
Formula 1 made its return to the picturesque yet demanding Red Bull Ring for the 11th round of the 2025 season, with Friday’s practice sessions kicking off an eventful weekend ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix. The session, however, brought more frustration for Lewis Hamilton, who encountered both technical and disciplinary issues.
After setting the pace in qualifying to secure pole position ahead of Max Verstappen, Hamilton’s fortunes dipped sharply during practice. In Free Practice 1 (FP1), the 40-year-old Ferrari driver suffered gearbox issues that limited his performance, managing only the ninth-fastest time. Matters worsened in FP2 when Hamilton became embroiled in a near-collision with Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli.
Antonelli, the young Italian who has taken over Hamilton’s former seat at Mercedes, has enjoyed a strong start to his debut season. The incident unfolded when Hamilton, on a slow lap, drifted onto the racing line just as Antonelli was approaching at full speed heading into Turn 4. Antonelli was forced to swerve suddenly to avoid a crash and promptly questioned the situation over team radio.
Hamilton immediately acknowledged his mistake, gesturing apologetically to Antonelli on track and later admitting over team communications: “I couldn’t see Antonelli at all.”
Following the session, the FIA summoned both drivers and their team representatives to a stewards’ hearing, citing a possible breach of Article 37.5 of the F1 Sporting Regulations, which governs impeding during practice sessions. The stewards reviewed various camera angles and in-car footage before issuing their verdict.
In an official statement, the FIA clarified:
“The driver of Car 44, although consistently checking his mirrors after being informed by the team about Car 12 closing in, slowly moved onto the racing line on the approach to Turn 4 and thereby unnecessarily impeded Car 12, which had to take evasive action. The driver of Car 44 apologised immediately upon realizing his error.”
While the stewards acknowledged that regulations for impeding are interpreted more leniently during Free Practice compared to qualifying or the race itself, they still deemed Hamilton’s actions avoidable and unnecessary. However, due to the circumstances — including his prompt apology and lack of malicious intent — the FIA decided against issuing a penalty.
Instead, Hamilton was given a formal warning, the lightest possible disciplinary measure, effectively closing the matter without further consequence.
The incident adds to a turbulent season for the veteran driver, who has faced various challenges since joining Ferrari, while Antonelli continues to shine in his first season with Mercedes. With Hamilton starting from pole, all eyes will be on Sunday’s race to see whether he can turn his weekend around on one of the most technically demanding tracks on the calendar.
