Ferrari fined for unsafe release at Belgian Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton has escaped further punishment at the Belgian Grand Prix after Ferrari were fined £25,500 following a dramatic pit-stop incident which saw one of the team’s mechanics knocked to the ground, reports BritPanorama.
The seven-time Formula One world champion endured another eventful afternoon at Spa-Francorchamps as Ferrari’s race unravelled with a costly unsafe release, moments after Hamilton had already been handed a five-second penalty for his opening-lap collision with Mercedes rival George Russell.
The alarming moment transpired during Hamilton’s pit stop when a mechanic was still making a final adjustment to the Ferrari’s front wing as the electronic release system signalled the Briton to leave his pit box. Following the green light, Hamilton accelerated away, inadvertently catching the crew member, who fell to the ground before the Ferrari came to an immediate halt.
Clearly concerned, Hamilton instantly checked on his colleague over team radio. Race engineer Carlos Santi quickly reassured the 41-year-old, replying: “He’s okay. We are all okay.” Ferrari later confirmed the mechanic escaped without injury and did not require any medical treatment, although the incident prompted immediate investigation from FIA stewards.
There were fears Hamilton could face another sporting sanction, potentially jeopardising the fourth-place finish he salvaged after a bruising afternoon in Belgium. Instead, the stewards concluded the responsibility rested solely with Ferrari, imposing a £25,500 fine on the Scuderia, with £8,500 suspended for the next 12 months, while Hamilton himself escaped any additional punishment.
Explaining their decision, the FIA pointed to a breakdown in Ferrari’s pit-stop procedures rather than any error from the driver. A statement confirmed that the team acknowledged that for Car 44 to have been released under these circumstances was unsafe, attributing the error to an inappropriately late instruction for the wing adjustment, a lack of clear communication, and the mechanic’s failure to notice the green light.
The stewards determined that the driver was in no respect at fault. “Indeed, the driver realised what had occurred as soon as he commenced to move off and immediately stopped until the mechanic was clear,” they stated. “Far from resulting in a sporting advantage, the incident brought about a sporting disadvantage for Car 44 which was delayed in its pit stop. The incident did not justify a sporting penalty but did justify a significant fine on the competitor.”
Hamilton later admitted his mind immediately flashed back to one of Formula One’s most infamous pit-lane accidents when former Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen accidentally struck a mechanic during the 2018 Bahrain Grand Prix, leaving the crew member with a broken leg. “Oh God, I am just grateful my mechanic didn’t get hurt,” Hamilton said. “I was looking at the lights and I am supposed to go when the car drops to the ground. I went and then I saw him to my right and I stopped as soon as I could.”
Hamilton’s challenging weekend had begun with a crash during final practice, followed by contact with Russell that caused damage to his car during Sunday’s race. Despite these setbacks, the Briton remains second in the championship and is already looking ahead to next weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix. “I need to come correct and deliver the way I know I can deliver in Budapest and fight for that win,” Hamilton added.
