Last Updated on March 12 2026, 1:25 pm
Lewis Hamilton narrowly avoided an accident during practice for the Australian Grand Prix – The opening race weekend of the 2026 Formula 1 season offered encouraging signs for Ferrari at the Australian Grand Prix. The Italian team demonstrated competitive pace throughout the weekend at the Albert Park Circuit, with Charles Leclerc finishing third and Lewis Hamilton fourth in the race.
For Hamilton, this result was another solid step in his early period with Ferrari. The seven-time world champion joined the Scuderia with the aim of returning to the front of the grid and challenging for victories again in the coming seasons.
However, the race weekend was not entirely straightforward for the British driver. During the second free practice session in Melbourne, he experienced a dramatic moment that could have resulted in a serious accident.
High-speed scare during second practice
The incident occurred during FP2 when Hamilton was completing a fast lap around the Albert Park circuit. As he approached the main straight at high speed, he encountered Franco Colapinto, who was driving much more slowly than expected.
Colapinto, representing the Alpine F1 Team during the session, had developed a technical issue with his car that had significantly reduced its speed on the straight. As a result, Hamilton rapidly closed the gap while travelling at full speed.
At the last moment, the Ferrari driver reacted quickly and steered away to avoid contact. The timing of the manoeuvre was critical, and it was Hamilton’s quick reflexes that prevented a potentially dangerous collision between the two cars.
The near miss was captured on broadcast footage and on-board cameras, and the video quickly circulated online, sparking significant discussion among fans and analysts about the potential risks involved.
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Watch Hamilton’s near miss
Technical problem slows Colapinto
Following the session, officials from the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) reviewed the situation and provided an explanation in their report on the incident.
According to the stewards, Colapinto’s car suffered a ‘false neutral’ as he approached the final corner before the main straight. This gearbox issue caused the power unit to briefly lose drive, dramatically reducing the car’s speed as he exited the corner.
With the car unable to accelerate normally, Colapinto was forced to continue down the straight at a significantly reduced pace, receiving instructions from the team on how to resolve the issue.
As a result, he remained on the left side of the main straight while attempting to regain normal operation. Meanwhile, Hamilton was approaching from behind at full racing speed, creating a dangerous closing speed between the two cars.
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The risks on the track
Although no contact occurred, the incident highlighted one of the less visible dangers in Formula 1: the significant speed difference that can be caused when a car experiences a mechanical issue.
When a Formula 1 car suddenly loses power or slows down unexpectedly on a high-speed section of the circuit, drivers approaching from behind may have very little time to react. In this case, Hamilton’s quick response and situational awareness prevented the situation from escalating further.
Ferrari is still building momentum as it aims to compete at the front of the grid, so avoiding unnecessary incidents is crucial in the early stages of the season. The Alpine team will be hoping to resolve their reliability concerns quickly as the championship progresses.
Although the near collision ultimately had no lasting consequences, footage of the incident has become a widely shared example of how quickly circumstances can change during a Formula 1 session.
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A Brazilian motorsport writer with a background in sports journalism and broadcast reporting, Treze brings cultural insight and on-the-ground knowledge of South American racing. With credentials in communications and journalism, Treze connects today’s Formula 1 with the enduring legacy of Ayrton Senna.
Slow aging Hamilton a danger to other F1 drivers!
“At the last moment, the Ferrari driver reacted quickly and steered away to avoid contact. The timing of the manoeuvre was critical, and it was Hamilton’s quick reflexes that prevented a potentially dangerous collision between the two cars.”
“Hamilton’s quick response and situational awareness prevented the situation from escalating further.”
Well that is certainly ONE perspective. Of course an OBJECTIVE perspective from outside the cult of Lewis would be that, yes Lewis acted “at the last moment” because he lacked the “situational awareness” of all the other drivers on the course. If one actually WATCHES the video available from the international F1 feeds you see Lewis’ unobstructed view of Colapinto is long before he reaches his terminal speed. Either Lewis was distracted by thoughts of recliner shopping days earlier or his aging eyes just aren’t quick enough to see cars ahead any longer.
For comparison watch the start of the race where ALL cars are on course in the same space. Franco Colapinto narrowly avoided colliding with a stalled Liam Lawson. THAT was REAL reaction time! If Lewis keeps endangering everyone with pathetic lack of on track awareness he should switch from F1 to shuffleboard.