In a dramatic turn of events following the Belgian Grand Prix, the FIA has handed down a significant penalty to Ferrari, stemming from a chaotic pit stop involving Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time world champion found himself at the center of attention after a mishap that could have ended in disaster for a team member.
During the race, Hamilton collided with his Mercedes teammate, George Russell, at Turn 5, forcing Russell out of the competition before it even began. Hamilton managed to continue racing but faced a five-second penalty for the incident, which he served during a subsequent pit stop.
However, the š¯’¹š¯“‡š¯’¶š¯“‚š¯’¶ didn’t end there. As Hamilton exited the pit, he accidentally knocked over a Ferrari mechanic, raising serious safety concerns. Fortunately, the mechanic was unharmed, but the incident prompted the FIA to take action against Ferrari after a thorough review.
In a decision announced more than two hours after a meeting with Ferrari representatives, the FIA confirmed that Hamilton’s fourth-place finish remains intact, and he will not face any further penalties. Instead, Ferrari has been hit with a ā‚¬30,000 fine, with ā‚¬10,000 suspended for a year, contingent on the team avoiding similar infractions.
The stewards provided a detailed explanation, noting that the incident arose from a mix of unusual circumstances. Hamilton had requested a front wing adjustment, but the communication breakdown led to confusion during the pit stop. As Hamilton’s car was released, a mechanic, distracted by his tool, stepped into the path of the moving vehicle, resulting in the near-miss.
The stewards concluded that Hamilton was not at fault and even halted his car to ensure the mechanic’s safety. They acknowledged that the incident did not provide any competitive advantage to Hamilton and emphasized the need for Ferrari to review their pit stop protocols to prevent future occurrences.
This latest development adds to Ferrari’s woes during the Spa weekend, where they had already faced a ā‚¬5,000 fine for a separate tire-related issue. As the team grapples with these setbacks, one has to wonder how they will respond and what changes will be implemented moving forward.
