Lewis Hamilton avoided a penalty after FIA stewards reviewed his late-race incident with Oscar Piastri during the sprint event at the Canadian Grand Prix.
The Ferrari driver came under investigation after leaving the track while defending fourth place from the McLaren star at the final chicane. Hamilton cut across the corner during the battle and stayed ahead initially, leading race officials to examine whether he had gained an unfair advantage.
According to Formula 1 regulations, drivers must not benefit from leaving the circuit. If stewards believe a lasting advantage was gained, penalties can be issued after the race. Hamilton therefore faced the possibility of a time penalty that could have dropped him further down the final standings.
After reviewing the incident, the FIA decided not to punish the seven-time world champion. Stewards concluded that Hamilton had not gained a lasting advantage because Piastri successfully overtook him shortly afterward.
The McLaren driver completed an impressive move on Hamilton at the same chicane near the end of the sprint race, finally taking fourth place after several laps of pressure. Soon after, Charles Leclerc also passed his Ferrari team-mate on the final lap, taking advantage of the battle ahead.
Hamilton’s investigation carried major importance because a penalty could have pushed him behind Max Verstappen in the results. Instead, the FIA ruling allowed the Ferrari driver to keep his finishing position and avoid further disappointment in Montreal.
The sprint race once again highlighted the fierce competition at the front, with Piastri continuing to impress through aggressive yet controlled overtaking. Hamilton, meanwhile, escaped without punishment but remained at the centre of one of the weekend’s biggest talking points.