FIA Clear Lewis Hamilton After Canadian Grand Prix Sprint… read more 👇 details in the comments section
The FIA have officially confirmed their verdict regarding an investigation into following the sprint race at the , with the Ferrari driver ultimately avoiding any punishment from the race stewards.
Hamilton found himself under scrutiny after an incident involving during the closing stages of the sprint. The seven-time world champion was suspected of potentially gaining an unfair advantage after cutting across the final chicane while defending his position from the McLaren star.
The moment occurred as both drivers battled intensely for fourth place. Heading into the final chicane, Hamilton failed to negotiate the corner properly and went off track before rejoining ahead of Piastri. Because he remained in front after leaving the circuit, the stewards immediately noted the incident for investigation to determine whether the Ferrari driver had gained what Formula 1 regulations describe as a “lasting advantage.”
At the time, Hamilton was still holding onto fourth place, although the pressure from Piastri continued to increase. The Australian eventually produced a brilliant move at the same chicane near the end of the penultimate lap, finally overtaking Hamilton after several laps of close combat.
Hamilton’s difficult finish did not end there. Moments after losing position to Piastri, the Briton was also overtaken by his Ferrari team-mate . Leclerc capitalized on the battle unfolding ahead and swept past Hamilton at the beginning of the final lap, pushing the British driver further down the order.
Despite dropping places on track, Hamilton still faced the possibility of an even more damaging result after the race. If the FIA stewards had decided that he gained an unfair advantage by cutting the chicane, he could have received a ten-second time penalty. Such a punishment would likely have dropped him behind in the final classification, potentially leaving Hamilton down in seventh position.
Fortunately for the Ferrari star, the FIA ruled in his favour after carefully reviewing the evidence. The stewards decided that no further action would be taken, meaning Hamilton kept his finishing position without any additional penalty being applied.
In their official explanation, the FIA clarified why Hamilton’s case differed from another incident during the same sprint race involving . Hulkenberg had been handed a ten-second penalty after stewards concluded that he improperly defended his position while leaving the track.
According to the FIA statement, the circumstances surrounding Hamilton’s incident were not considered the same because Piastri was not yet fully in an overtaking position when Hamilton missed the chicane. As a result, the stewards determined that Hamilton was not actively defending in a manner that breached the driving standards guidelines.
The official FIA document explained that stewards examined several forms of evidence before reaching their conclusion. This included positioning and marshalling system data, onboard footage, timing information, video replays, and team radio communications.
Their report stated that Hamilton’s car entered the chicane ahead of Piastri’s McLaren and rejoined the circuit still leading the Australian. However, because Piastri had not achieved a legitimate overtaking position before Hamilton left the track, the FIA concluded that the Ferrari driver had not secured a “lasting advantage” under the current regulations.
The ruling provided major relief for Hamilton and Ferrari after what had already been a frustrating sprint race. While the Brit managed to avoid a penalty, losing positions to both Piastri and Leclerc in the closing laps highlighted Ferrari’s ongoing struggles against McLaren and Red Bull in high-pressure race situations.
For Piastri, the incident added another impressive chapter to his growing Formula 1 reputation. The Australian showed aggression, patience, and excellent racecraft during his battle with Hamilton, eventually making the decisive move stick without needing assistance from the stewards.
The Canadian Grand Prix weekend has already delivered several controversial moments, with stewards remaining busy throughout the event due to multiple on-track investigations and driving standard disputes. Hamilton’s case quickly became one of the most talked-about incidents after the sprint, especially given the possibility of a harsh post-race penalty.
In the end, however, the FIA decided consistency with their driving guidelines was the most important factor. Because Hamilton was judged not to have been defending illegally when he cut the chicane, the stewards opted against punishment and officially closed the investigation with no further action taken.