Hamilton penalty – Hamilton under scrutiny after near-miss with Antonelli in Austrian GP practice – Lewis Hamilton’s return to the Red Bull Ring got off to a rocky start on Friday, with the seven-time world champion struggling in the second free practice session. Not only did he post underwhelming lap times, but he also faces a potential penalty.
After a sluggish start to his Austrian Grand Prix weekend, Hamilton was summoned to see the stewards after a dramatic and potentially dangerous incident involving Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The incident, which occurred midway through FP2, saw the two drivers narrowly avoid contact, a situation that has now prompted an official investigation by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA).
A close call with Antonelli
Hamilton, on a cool-down lap, was crawling around the middle of the circuit and appeared unaware that Antonelli, on a flying lap, was fast approaching from behind. As the 17-year-old Mercedes protégé moved to the left to overtake, Hamilton also moved left, cutting across the Italian’s path at speed.
Although no contact was made, it was an extremely close call that drew immediate reactions from both sides. Antonelli, already under the spotlight amid speculation about his future, quickly radioed his Mercedes team to complain about Hamilton’s lack of awareness. Hamilton, for his part, appeared genuinely caught off-guard by the incident, quickly raising a hand in apology as Antonelli sped past.
The Briton then informed his Ferrari race engineer that he hadn’t seen Antonelli in his mirrors. Replays showed that the Ferrari was moving slowly at a fast section of the circuit. Whether this lack of awareness will be deemed avoidable by the stewards remains the central question.
The FIA has stepped in
Shortly after the near-miss, the FIA noted the incident during live coverage of the session and initially flagged it as a situation to be reviewed after the race. By the time the chequered flag fell, it was confirmed that the stewards would open a formal investigation into the incident involving the two drivers.
Hamilton has now been summoned to explain his side of the story. While the case could be dismissed as a simple miscommunication or lack of visibility, there is still a significant chance that the Briton could face sanctions, particularly given the FIA’s recent push for more consistent enforcement of impeding infringements during practice sessions.
In recent months, the governing body has cracked down on drivers failing to yield on slow laps, particularly on high-speed corners or when the slower driver’s actions could be deemed unsafe. In this case, if the stewards conclude that Hamilton dangerously impeded Antonelli or failed to act with due caution, he could receive a grid penalty for Sunday’s race.
It was a day to forget for Hamilton
Beyond the incident, Hamilton’s afternoon was already looking grim. Despite Ferrari’s hopes of strong pace in Austria, the British driver struggled to get the best out of the SF-25. Citing a lack of grip and an unbalanced car, Hamilton was unable to match the pace of the leaders and ultimately finished the session in tenth place.
This is yet another frustrating moment in what is becoming an increasingly challenging debut season with Ferrari. Since his high-profile switch from Mercedes, Hamilton has struggled to settle into the red overalls, and his results have been mixed at best. Friday’s mishap is unlikely to help his momentum, and depending on the stewards’ verdict, it could complicate the rest of the weekend.
Meanwhile, for Antonelli, the moment will do little to slow the rumours linking him to a full-time Formula 1 seat in 2026 — or even earlier, should Mercedes decide to make a mid-season change. The young Italian kept his cool in the cockpit and didn’t let the Hamilton scare derail his run — another sign that he’s ready for the spotlight.
What happens next?
Hamilton and Antonelli are expected to appear before the stewards before FP3, and a decision is likely to be made swiftly to allow teams to prepare for qualifying with clarity. If Hamilton is found guilty of impeding, the range of penalties that the FIA could impose includes anything from a reprimand to a grid drop of three places or more — especially if the stewards deem the situation to be a serious breach of safety protocol.
As the championship fight continues to tighten, even small penalties can have outsized consequences. Hamilton, currently languishing in midfield in both the standings and on pace, cannot afford any more setbacks.
For now, the spotlight will remain firmly on the stewards’ room, where one of F1’s biggest names will once again find himself answering difficult questions — this time not about race strategy or tyre choices, but about a rare lapse in judgement during a quiet lap that turned into something far more dramatic.
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