Why Ferrari escaped with fine for Hamilton pitstop error
Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari have escaped the 2026 Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix with a fine rather than a time penalty after being investigated for an unsafe release.
Ferrari elected to double-stack Hamilton and Charles Leclerc under the second virtual safety car in Sunday’s race, and while Leclerc got away with no issue, Hamilton had a problem on his release.
Hamilton had been asking for a tweak to his front wing to complement his hard compounds, but Ferrari mechanics had to wait five seconds for the pitstop after Hamilton was penalised for his first lap collision with George Russell.
After a lack of communication meant no adjustment was made, a mechanic tried to make a late effort to change the balance of the front wing but was instead struck by Hamilton’s front right tyre as he left the box.
The mechanic escaped injury, but the stewards triggered a post-race investigation over an unsafe release.
Both Hamilton and Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur were strong in the belief that if there was any sanction applied, it should not have impacted his race result as he was focused on the green light above his pitbox.
“I didn't do it. I went when the light was green,” Hamilton said. “I think [an] unsafe release is usually unsafe when it's to the other cars, and that's not necessarily [towards] the team.”
Vasseur added: “The confusion came from the fact that we had a double pitstop, and the front wing adjustment just for the second, and we didn't want to speak during the five seconds.
“If we start to speak, the mechanics could have jumped on the car. It's not the mistake of Lewis.”
The stewards factored in the confusion over the front wing tweak as they issued a fine over a sporting penalty, stating the “unusual combination of circumstances” had played a part in the incident and had “brought about a sporting disadvantage for Car 44 which was delayed in its pitstop.”
Hamilton was also considered “not at fault” by the panel, while it justified giving Ferrari a part-suspended fine “on condition that the team conduct a review of their procedures and submit a report to the FIA outlining remedial steps to be taken” due to putting one of its mechanics at risk.
