FIA Penalizes Lewis Hamilton with Double Grid Drop Ahead of Canadian Grand Prix
Montreal, Canada — Just days before the highly anticipated Canadian Grand Prix, the FIA has officially announced a double penalty for Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time world champion will face a two-place grid drop on Sunday, the result of an infringement that took place during the previous race weekend. While the FIA has not yet disclosed the full details of the incident, preliminary reports suggest that the penalty is linked to technical irregularities involving Ferrari’s race start protocol.
The unexpected ruling marks a significant setback for Hamilton and the Ferrari team, who arrived in Montreal brimming with confidence following recent upgrades to their car. The team had shown strong performance during Friday’s free practice sessions, and Hamilton himself was reportedly feeling optimistic about challenging for a podium position this weekend. However, with overtaking opportunities being notoriously limited on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, the two-place grid drop now adds an extra layer of difficulty to his race.
This decision by the FIA follows an internal investigation launched shortly after the last Grand Prix, where Ferrari’s procedures at the race start reportedly triggered scrutiny from race stewards. Though specifics remain scarce, it is understood that Ferrari may have breached regulations relating to launch settings or pre-start procedures, which are tightly monitored for compliance with technical and sporting regulations.
In response to the penalty, Ferrari issued a brief statement acknowledging the FIA’s decision. A team spokesperson said: “We respect the stewards’ ruling and the FIA’s authority in governing the sport. While this is obviously disappointing, especially given the strong form we’ve shown here so far, our focus remains on executing a clean and competitive race. Lewis is as determined as ever and we’ll continue to fight for every position.”
Hamilton has not yet publicly commented on the sanction, but those close to the team have indicated that the British driver remains calm and focused despite the setback. Sources from within the paddock suggest that Hamilton views the penalty as “just another challenge” and is prepared to push hard from wherever he starts on the grid.
The double grid penalty throws an interesting dynamic into what was already shaping up to be a closely contested race weekend. With Ferrari and Red Bull appearing evenly matched in terms of pace, and Mercedes showing signs of resurgence, Sunday’s race was already set to be unpredictable. Now, with Hamilton needing to make up positions in a densely packed midfield, strategic decisions on pit stops and tire choices will be more critical than ever.
Adding to the drama is the fact that Montreal’s street circuit, while fast, is not particularly conducive to overtaking. Drivers often struggle to pass, especially in the DRS zones where defending cars can still maintain pace. For Hamilton, this means he’ll have to rely not only on raw speed but also on smart racecraft and possibly a bit of luck with safety car timings.
The FIA is expected to release the full stewards’ report later today, which will likely shed more light on the specifics of Ferrari’s breach. Until then, speculation continues to swirl in the paddock, with fans and analysts eager to understand how such an infraction could have occurred under the watchful eye of a top-tier team.
Regardless of the circumstances, Hamilton and Ferrari will now need to regroup and refocus. With championship points on the line and the season reaching a critical phase, every decision — and every second — will count. The Canadian Grand Prix, already known for its surprises, just became even more intriguing.
