Lewis Hamilton was investigated by the FIA Stewards for the incident with Gabriel Bortoleto at the Bahrain GP FP2, where the Briton impeded the Audi driver. However, the Ferrari driver only received a warning. Let’s dive into why Hamilton was only given a warning, and not a penalty for impeding Bortoleto.
Almost halfway through the FP2 session at the Sepang International Circuit, Hamilton was on a cool-down lap when Bortoleto, who was on an outlap, arrived behind him. Going into Turn 9, the Brazilian found the seven-time F1 champion on the racing line.
The Audi driver had to take evasive action, and the same incident was investigated by the Stewards. Both the drivers were summoned after the session, as the Briton escaped a penalty, and Ferrari were fined €10,000.
The standard warning for impeding during a practice session is a warning. However, the circumstances and the driver’s intent may lead to a different outcome, which includes a penalty.
In this case, Lewis Hamilton had a broken right mirror and couldn’t see Bortoleto coming. The Audi driver was also on an outlap and not a fast lap. The FIA Stewards considered all the factors and determined that a warning was appropriate. Detailing the same, the FIA Document read,
“The Stewards considered the damaged mirror and the fact that BOR was not on a push lap as mitigating circumstances. These were balanced against the significant speed differential, HAM’s movement onto the racing line and the resulting need for BOR to take evasive action.”
“Taking all the above into account, the Stewards determine that the standard penalty for impeding during a Practice session, which is a Warning, is appropriate.”
While Gabriel Bortoleto was furious on the team radio after the incident, Hamilton defended himself and explained how he couldn’t see the Audi behind because of the broken mirror
Why were Ferrari fined €10,000 for Lewis Hamilton’s Bahrain GP FP2 impeding incident?
The FIA fined Ferrari €10,000 for the failure to provide Lewis Hamilton with the information about a fast-approaching driver behind him, especially when the team knew that the Briton’s ability to see behind was compromised due to the broken mirror.
The same was explained by the Stewards in the FIA document, which read,
“The Team was aware that HAM’s right-hand mirror was damaged. As such, the Stewards determine that the Team should have provided appropriate radio warnings of significantly faster approaching cars, irrespective of whether those cars were on a push lap or not.”
“The Stewards therefore determine that the Team failed to provide its driver with appropriate information in circumstances where it knew that his ability to observe approaching traffic was materially impaired by the damaged mirror and impose a fine of €10,000 on Scuderia Ferrari HP.”
Lewis Hamilton was also reprimanded last week by the FIA for impeding Liam Lawson during Azerbaijan GP FP2.
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