Ferrari star cleared after stewards reviewed impeding incident involving Pierre Gasly during tense qualifying session at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
Lewis Hamilton avoided a grid penalty at the Canadian Grand Prix after FIA stewards completed their investigation into an alleged impeding incident involving Pierre Gasly during qualifying in Montreal.
The seven-time world champion had come under scrutiny following a dramatic qualifying session at the Canadian Grand Prix, where several drivers struggled for grip and traffic around the tight Circuit Gilles Villeneuve layout.
Hamilton initially secured fifth on the grid for Ferrari, but concerns quickly emerged after the FIA announced that both Hamilton and Gasly had been summoned to the stewards over a potential impeding breach at Turn 8.
The incident occurred during the closing stages of Q3. Gasly, on a flying lap for Alpine, claimed Hamilton had compromised his run after the Ferrari driver slowed following a mistake at Turn 7 and moved back onto the racing line.
Under FIA sporting regulations, impeding another driver during qualifying can result in a three-place grid penalty, creating immediate uncertainty around Hamilton’s starting position for Sunday’s race.
However, after reviewing onboard footage, team radio communications and GPS data, the FIA elected not to hand Hamilton a sporting penalty.
Instead, stewards concluded that while Gasly had been affected, the circumstances surrounding Hamilton’s aborted lap and the speed differential between the two cars did not warrant further action.
The verdict means Hamilton retains his fifth-place grid slot for the grand prix, preserving an important opportunity for Ferrari in what has already become a fiercely competitive weekend in Montreal.
The decision also avoids further frustration for Hamilton, whose final qualifying attempt had already unravelled after a snap of oversteer through the middle sector prevented him from challenging the front rows.
Ferrari have shown encouraging pace throughout the weekend, but Hamilton admitted after qualifying that extracting consistent grip from the car remained difficult around the low-downforce Canadian circuit.
Meanwhile, Gasly’s frustration added to Alpine’s difficult weekend, with the Enstone-based outfit continuing to battle inconsistency during the 2026 campaign.
The FIA’s ruling closes one of several investigations that emerged after a chaotic qualifying hour, with race control forced to closely monitor traffic management as drivers attempted to create gaps on the narrow Montreal track.
Attention now turns to Sunday’s race, where Hamilton will look to convert Ferrari’s improved qualifying pace into a podium challenge as the fight at the sharp end of the championship intensifies once again.