FIA Clears Lewis Hamilton of Penalty After S…read more
The FIA has confirmed that Lewis Hamilton will not face any penalties following an investigation into a potential breach of qualifying rules at the Spanish Grand Prix. The seven-time world champion, now driving for Ferrari, was one of three drivers—alongside Esteban Ocon and Lance Stroll—who were under scrutiny for allegedly exceeding the maximum time limit between the two Safety Car lines during qualifying.
Hamilton, competing in his first Spanish Grand Prix as a Ferrari driver, managed a strong performance during Saturday’s qualifying session at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The 40-year-old Brit secured P5 on the grid, notably outqualifying his highly-rated team-mate Charles Leclerc. It marked a significant moment for Hamilton, who has won six times at this circuit and was looking to return to podium contention after a challenging start to the season.
The issue under investigation was whether Hamilton and the other drivers violated Article 33.4 of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations and Article 12.2.1 i) of the FIA International Sporting Code. These regulations pertain to minimum lap times between the Safety Car lines during qualifying, a rule designed to prevent unnecessary slowing that could impede other drivers.
After analyzing data from multiple sources, including marshalling and positioning systems, lap timing information, onboard camera footage, and CCTV, the FIA concluded that all three drivers had remained largely within the parameters of the regulation. The key consideration was whether any of the drivers were unnecessarily slow in a way that disadvantaged other competitors.
In its official statement, the FIA clarified: “All drivers concerned stayed at or above speeds necessary to stay below 1:25.0 around the vast majority of the circuit. However, in all cases, the stewards determined that the drivers took appropriate actions to not impede other drivers, and in all cases, they slowed down significantly to allow other drivers to pass while giving those drivers a clear track.”
As such, the stewards ruled that none of the drivers breached the regulation to a degree that warranted a penalty. The decision means Hamilton will retain his P5 starting position, avoiding a potential grid drop that could have significantly hampered his chances in the race.
The verdict was a relief for Hamilton, who has been striving to find his form in a new environment at Ferrari. His switch from Mercedes to Ferrari was one of the most high-profile moves in recent Formula One history, and with expectations high, every qualifying session and race result carries added scrutiny.
Following qualifying, Hamilton expressed satisfaction with the progress being made in his new team. “Definitely an improvement from where we’ve been, definitely an improvement I would say from my qualifying side,” he told reporters in Barcelona. The former champion has had to adapt quickly, especially given that he’s now teamed with Charles Leclerc, widely regarded as one of the best qualifiers on the grid.
With just a few tenths separating the top competitors, Hamilton acknowledged the intensity of the midfield and front-row battles. Still, his confidence appeared to be growing. “It’s going to be close. It’s really close between us all, so I’m going to try and get on the podium for once,” he added with a smile.
As race day approached, Hamilton looked forward to capitalizing on his strong qualifying and potentially challenging for his first podium since joining Ferrari. With the FIA investigation behind him and no penalties to contend with, all focus could now return to the track—where Hamilton will aim to convert promising form into points and silverware.
