Ferrari Fined After Hamilton’s Pit Stop Incident

Ferrari faces a €30,000 fine after an unsafe pit stop at the Belgian GP, where Hamilton accidentally hit a mechanic. Investigation details revealed.

Lewis Hamilton finished fourth at the Belgian Grand Prix, but the spotlight shifted to Ferrari following an investigation into an unsafe release that saw Hamilton accidentally hit a mechanic during a pit stop.

The Italian team was fined €30,000 ($34,314; £25,508), with a third of that amount, €10,000, suspended for 12 months, contingent on Hamilton avoiding similar issues and Ferrari providing a follow-up report to the FIA within 14 days detailing their revised protocols.

The post-race scrutiny confirmed that Hamilton retains his fourth-place finish, which propels him to second in the drivers’ championship, 45 points behind leader Kimi Antonelli, who triumphed at Spa.

During the race, Hamilton made his pit stop amidst a virtual safety car period, where he served a five-second penalty linked to a first-lap incident involving George Russell. Anticipating a front wing adjustment, confusion arose at the conclusion of the stop.

Ferrari opted for a double stack, bringing in Hamilton right after Charles Leclerc. Team principal Fred Vasseur explained that mechanics had not been informed about the front wing adjustment to prevent premature contact. When Hamilton’s tire change was complete and the green light activated, a mechanic inadvertently stepped into the path of the front-right tire.

The stewards provided clarity on the incident, stating, “Just as the driver moved off, another mechanic with a front wing tool moved forward into the path of the front-right tire. Before he stepped forward he had his head down looking at the tool and did not see the green light.” Hamilton commented that he “stopped as soon as I could” and was relieved that the mechanic was unharmed.

He drew attention to a past incident from 2018 when Kimi Räikkönen hit a mechanic during a pit stop, leading to a serious injury. The stewards concluded that Hamilton was not at fault for the incident and noted that he had to stop during the race, which ultimately put him at a sporting disadvantage.

Regarding the earlier collision with Russell, the stewards indicated that while Hamilton caused the contact, it was due to understeer rather than deliberate aggression. They acknowledged mitigating circumstances stemming from the opening lap’s challenging conditions.

This event highlights the critical nature of communication within racing teams and the split-second decisions that can lead to varying outcomes on the track.