FIA announce Lewis Hamilton penalty verdict after Australian Grand Prix incident
FIA Issues Verdict on Lewis Hamilton’s Australian Grand Prix Investigation
The 2025 Australian Grand Prix was a thrilling and unpredictable event, marked by changeable wet weather conditions that challenged both rookie and seasoned drivers. The race saw several high-profile crashes, including those involving Isack Hadjar, Jack Doohan, Carlos Sainz, Fernando Alonso, Gabriel Bortoleto, and Liam Lawson. McLaren also struggled, losing position as the track became progressively wetter.
In the midst of the chaos, Oscar Piastri’s fortunes took a dramatic turn, tumbling down the order and out of the top 10 before eventually recovering to finish ninth. Meanwhile, Lando Norris demonstrated exceptional skill and strategy, reclaiming the lead and emerging victorious in the Australian GP.
Lewis Hamilton’s first race with Ferrari, however, was less fortuitous. The rain hit Albert Park at the worst possible time, causing Hamilton to slip down to the tail end of the top 10, alongside his teammate Charles Leclerc. Hamilton ultimately finished the race in 10th place, following a late overtake by Piastri around the outside at Turn 9.
Despite the challenging conditions, Hamilton’s performance could have been worse, thanks in part to a fortunate decision by the stewards. Following an early safety car deployment after the opening lap, Hamilton was noted for failing to maintain a 10-car-length distance behind the safety car. This infringement was not unique to Hamilton, as Fernando Alonso, Yuki Tsunoda, and Liam Lawson were also cited for the same offense.
In a surprising move, the FIA announced that no penalties would be applied to any of the drivers involved. An official document explained the stewards’ decision, stating that they had reviewed various data, video, and in-car video evidence before concluding that the weather conditions and the drivers’ prompt restoration of the correct gap mitigated the circumstances.
The document read: “Although the gap to the previous car exceeded the 10 car lengths prescribed in the regulations, the Stewards considered the weather conditions and also that the correct gap was restored well prior to the restart, as mitigating circumstances in this case. Hence no penalty is applied.”
This decision reflects the FIA’s nuanced approach to enforcing regulations, taking into account the unique challenges posed by the Australian Grand Prix’s wet weather conditions. As the 2025 season continues to unfold, it will be interesting to see how the FIA balances the need for safety and fair competition with the unpredictable nature of motorsport.
