Hamilton Summoned by Stewards at Azerbaijan GP After Impeding Incident
Lewis Hamilton has been called to face Formula 1 officials following an incident during Friday's second practice session at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The Ferrari competitor is accused of hindering Liam Lawson, who was in the middle of a fast lap, resulting in a potentially hazardous situation on the track.
During the practice session in Baku, Hamilton was observed recuperating energy in the final sector. Concurrently, Lawson was pushing hard in his Racing Bulls car. This disparity in speeds led to a rapid closure between the two vehicles, forcing Lawson to take evasive action at the penultimate corner. The young driver immediately voiced his frustration over the team radio, describing the situation as "so dangerous." His race engineer, Alexandre Iliopoulos, echoed this sentiment, confirming the severity of the incident.
Subsequently, both Lawson and Hamilton were summoned to meet with the stewards at 5:30 PM local time. The outcome of this meeting could result in a grid penalty for the world champion, depending on the stewards' findings. An official statement from the FIA indicated an "alleged breach of Article B4.1.1 of the FIA F1 regulations" concerning Hamilton's alleged impeding of Lawson at Turn 19 at 4:33 PM.
The increased closing speeds witnessed on track are a direct consequence of the new-for-2026 regulations, which place a greater emphasis on electric power and, consequently, energy management. Hamilton himself acknowledged this factor when discussing the incident after the second practice. He noted the lack of specific data or simulations to guide drivers on how much distance is needed when one car has significantly less power than another in certain parts of the track. He explained that he was four seconds ahead but as he went into Turn 18, his car lost power, closing the gap rapidly. Hamilton stressed that such a situation could happen to any driver and emphasized the need for clearer guidelines to prevent future occurrences, as no driver intentionally seeks to interfere with another's lap.
The incident highlights the challenges drivers face with the updated regulations, particularly in managing energy during critical moments of a lap. As the sport evolves with new rules, the need for precise guidelines and clear communication becomes paramount to ensure both fair competition and driver safety.