FIA has officially announced the reopening of their investigation into a dangerous maneuver executed by Lewis Hamilton during the Qatar Grand Prix. This move follows the high-profile incident where the seven-time Formula 1 World Champion crossed the live track under the safety car at the Losail International Circuit, immediately after his crash with fellow racer George Russell.
Previously, Hamilton faced consequences in the form of a £43,354 fine, with half of the penalty amount suspended for the remainder of the season. However, it appears that the FIA is considering additional sanctions against the Mercedes star, signaling a strong desire to make an example of him. The reason behind this renewed scrutiny is the FIA’s apprehension that not doing so might inadvertently set a precedent that could affect younger drivers in the sport.
An FIA spokesperson conveyed the organization’s stance, saying, “The FIA is revisiting the incident in which Lewis Hamilton crossed a live track during the Qatar Grand Prix. The FIA notes that Lewis was apologetic during the subsequent Stewards’ hearing into the incident and acknowledged that the crossing was a serious safety breach.”
The FIA spokesperson continued, “However, in view of his role model status, the FIA is concerned about the impression his actions may have created on younger drivers.”
During the immediate aftermath of the race, Hamilton received an official reprimand from the stewards for his actions on the track. A statement from the stewards’ office clarified the specifics of the incident, stating, “After crashing out of the race in Lap 1, the driver of Car 44 abandoned his car in the gravel and ran back to the pits. He thereby crossed the track that was live at this time and reached the inside edge of the track just seconds before Car 63 [Russell] arrived at high speed after exiting the pits.”
The statement continued, “He then continued to walk alongside the track until finally exiting the track. During the hearing, the driver of Car 44 was very apologetic and realized that the situation could have been very dangerous for him as well as the drivers approaching.”