Hamilton Learns Stewards' Verdict After Piastri Impeding Investigation

FIA stewards have delivered their verdict following Lewis Hamilton‘s investigation for allegedly impeding Oscar Piastri during the closing stages of Q3 in Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying.

As Piastri opened his final flying lap, he found Hamilton on the racing line approaching Turn 1, leaving the McLaren driver with no option but to back out of the throttle.

Hamilton had initially secured second place, missing out on what would have been his first Ferrari pole by just 0.012s to Lando Norris, while Piastri finished fifth after ending the session nearly half a second slower than his teammate.

After reviewing the incident, the stewards handed Hamilton a three-place grid penalty for Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix. The decision drops the seven-time world champion from second to fifth on the grid, promoting Oscar Piastri to fourth. As a result, Charles Leclerc will now line up alongside Lando Norris on the front row.

Photo: Race Pictures

“At the approach to Turn 1, Car 44 was travelling at a significantly reduced speed on the racing line while Car 81 was approaching on a push lap,” the Stewards explained.

“The driver of Car 44 explained that he had just completed a fast lap and did not receive the team’s radio message regarding the approaching Car 81 until the latter was already in close proximity. He further stated that, due to the positioning of his car on the track, Car 81 was not visible in his mirrors.

“Car 81, which was on a push lap, was forced to take avoiding action by running wide and being obliged to abort the lap. Having examined the available evidence, the Stewards determined that Car 44 unnecessarily impeded Car 81 during qualifying. In accordance with the FIA F1 Regulations and the established penalty guidelines for this type of infringement in Qualifying, the Stewards impose a three-place grid penalty on the driver of Car 44.”

Speaking after qualifying, Hamilton defended himself by explaining that he was only informed about Piastri’s presence once the McLaren driver was already at the apex.

The Ferrari driver said he believed every car had already completed its lap, as he was the first to leave the pit lane and thought Charles Leclerc was the last driver behind him at the time. Hamilton also stressed that the session had been clean until that point and insisted there was never any intention to impede Piastri.

“I was told literally when he was at the apex behind me, so I had no idea he was coming. Everyone came out behind me, I was the first out, so I thought everyone had finished their lap, and I think Charles was the car that was behind me when I left the pit lane, as far as I was aware. Crazy because it’d been clean and obviously it wasn’t intentional.”

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