Lewis Hamilton avoids FIA sporting penalty as Ferrari is penalised with a fine of €30,000 after the Belgian Grand Prix pit lane incident – Hamilton escaped further punishment after an incident during the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps. However, Ferrari has been fined €30,000 by the FIA following a pit lane error that saw the seven-time world champion make contact with one of his mechanics.
The incident occurred midway through Sunday’s race during Hamilton’s scheduled pit stop. Although the Ferrari driver was released once the pit lane light had turned green, a mechanic was still working on adjusting the front wing, resulting in Hamilton pulling away and lightly hitting the crew member.
Following an investigation by the FIA after the race, Ferrari was handed a financial penalty rather than a sporting sanction. Hamilton therefore retained fourth place, finishing ahead of Oscar Piastri, while Mercedes youngster Kimi Antonelli claimed his sixth victory of the 2026 Formula 1 season, further strengthening his championship challenge.
Ferrari has explained the Spa pit lane mistake that saw Hamilton strike a mechanic
The incident unfolded during Hamilton’s tyre change, when the team also attempted to adjust the front wing after the Briton had repeatedly reported concerns about the car’s handling and balance over the team radio.
As the stop neared completion, the pit lane release system indicated that it was safe for Hamilton to leave his pit box. However, one Ferrari mechanic was still working on the front wing and remained in front of the car.
Hamilton accelerated immediately once the release light turned green, making light contact with the mechanic before stopping. The Ferrari driver quickly asked over the radio whether the team member was unharmed.
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur later confirmed that there were no injuries.
“He is fine,” Vasseur said after the race.
Explaining how the incident occurred, the Frenchman told Sky:
“There was a mistake with the procedure. Because the light was green, Lewis could drive. It was simply a mistake, with a bit of bad luck thrown in.”
The FIA subsequently summoned Ferrari to explain the circumstances surrounding the unsafe release.
The FIA has handed Ferrari a suspended €30,000 fine following an investigation
Unsafe releases are typically treated seriously by Formula 1 stewards because they can endanger mechanics and other personnel in the pit lane.
In-race penalties for unsafe releases can range from a five- or ten-second time penalty to a drive-through penalty in more severe cases, depending on the circumstances and whether another competitor is affected.
After reviewing video footage, team evidence, and the circumstances surrounding the incident, the stewards decided that Hamilton himself bore no responsibility, as he had been released by Ferrari’s pit lane light system.
Ferrari received a €30,000 fine
One-third of the fine was suspended for 12 months, provided that the team does not commit a similar procedural breach during that period. Ferrari was also instructed to conduct an internal review of the incident and submit a report detailing the measures it will implement to prevent recurrence.
This meant that Hamilton avoided any additional sporting penalty that would have affected the race classification.
This was significant given the close battle for fourth place. Hamilton crossed the finish line approximately 1.7 seconds ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri; even a five-second post-race penalty would have dropped the Ferrari driver behind the Australian.
Hamilton had already served a separate five-second penalty earlier in the race after colliding with Mercedes driver George Russell on the opening lap.
Antonelli strengthens Formula 1 title charge with dominant Spa victory
While Ferrari dealt with the aftermath of its pit lane error, Mercedes celebrated another breakthrough victory for championship leader Kimi Antonelli.
The 19-year-old converted pole position into his sixth win of the season, overtaking Charles Leclerc in the closing stages to secure victory at Spa-Francorchamps.
Leclerc finished second for Ferrari, while Max Verstappen completed the podium in third after recovering from an aggressive opening lap, during which he briefly challenged for the lead through Eau Rouge.
Hamilton finished fourth despite his clash with Russell on the opening lap and the later pit lane incident, while Piastri completed the top five.
George Russell‘s race ended after only a handful of corners when contact with Hamilton forced the Mercedes driver to retire, costing him valuable championship points.
This result leaves Antonelli in a strong position in the 2026 Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship standings after 10 rounds. The Italian now leads the standings with 204 points, followed by Hamilton with 159 and Russell with 154.
Charles Leclerc remains in fourth place with 126 points, while the 2025 Formula 1 World Champion, Lando Norris, sits in fifth place after a challenging afternoon at Spa, where he finished seventh for McLaren.
Antonelli’s latest victory also represents an important response after several recent races were compromised by reliability issues. Having already dominated qualifying with the largest pole position margin seen this season, the Mercedes driver converted his pace into another crucial championship success.
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The Judge, a nom de plume of an experienced F1 journalist and site founder with long-standing sources across the paddock. With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
