The FIA has issued Lewis Hamilton a driving reprimand after he was investigated for obstructing Liam Lawson in free practice for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2026.
The collision happened late in FP2 at the Baku City Circuit as Lawson came in on an out lap to Lewis Hamilton, who was driving at high speed. The FIA stewards then called the drivers and analysed the video timing, telemetry, team radio, and in-car footage before making their decision.
What Happened Between Lewis Hamilton And Liam Lawson?
Hamilton was managing his Ferrari’s energy deployment to the final sector when Lawson closed rapidly from behind on a flying lap.
The stewards’ report states that Hamilton had been warned twice by Ferrari that Lawson was coming. The FIA’s traffic management instructions called for cars on a slow or out lap to stay towards the extreme left through the relevant part of the track.
Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images
The stewards ruled that Hamilton was not far enough left between turns 16 and 18. Hamilton was still on the racing line as Lawson came into turn 19, forcing the Racing Bulls driver to lift and brake slightly.
Lawson was not pleased about the situation on team radio right after the incident, saying, “So f***ing dangerous.”
What Punishment Did Lewis Hamilton Receive?
Instead of a grid penalty, Hamilton was given a driving reprimand.
The FIA explained that the normal punishment for impeding during free practice is a warning, unless the incident is considered dangerous or intentional. In this instance, the stewards saw no intent on Hamilton’s part, but felt the infringement was dangerous due to the corners being run at high speed and the race director’s instructions.
The stewards ultimately stated: “Taking these circumstances into account, the Stewards impose a Driving Reprimand.”
This incident also notes that this is Hamilton’s second driving reprimand of the 2026 F1 season. However, it does not carry an immediate grid penalty for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Despite the incident, Hamilton finished FP2 5th fastest, 1.318 seconds behind Mercedes’ George Russell. Charles Leclerc was 4th fastest while Lawson ended the session 12th.
The reprimand adds another talking point to Lewis Hamilton’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend. However, his focus will now turn towards qualifying and the race.
More F1 News
- F1 Azerbaijan GP Weekend Schedule: Practice, Qualifying, and Race Times
- Red Bull Announces Isack Hadjar Career News Ahead of Baku Race
- Christian Horner Tipped as ‘Perfect Man’ to Fix Ferrari Amid Lewis Hamilton Tension
- Red Bull Issues Isack Hadjar Injury Update Ahead of Baku Race