The Ferrari driver was placed under investigation, accused of having impeded Oscar Piastri right at the end of qualifying. And the TV replays made it clear there was a case for Hamilton to answer, the camera mounted on board the McLaren showing that the Australian clearly had to back off when he came across the slow-moving Ferrari ahead.
Hamilton was immediately glum in his post-session interviews, making it clear the he felt he was in trouble. Asked what he thinks he can achieve in Sunday’s race, he replied: “It’s all dependent on the stewards, so we’ll see what happens in the next half an hour. I always assume the worst, so tomorrow might be damage limitation.”
Speaking to Sky Sports after qualifying, Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur said the team was to blame for not properly communicating to Hamilton that Piastri was on the approach. “We told him, but far too late and it was a mistake,” the Frenchman said.
And it has now been confirmed that Hamilton has been handed a three-place grid penalty. It means he will start the Grand Prix fifth. Explaining their decision, the stewards said: “At the approach to turn one, Car 44 [Hamilton] was travelling at a significantly reduced speed on the racing line while Car 81 [Piastri] was approaching on a push lap.
“The driver of Car 44 explained that he had just completed a fast lap and did not receive the team’s radio message regarding the approaching Car 81 until the latter was already in close proximity. He further stated that, due to the positioning of his car on the track, Car 81 was not visible in his mirrors.
“Car 81, which was on a push lap, was forced to take avoiding action by running wide and being obliged to abort the lap. Having examined the available evidence, the Stewards determined that Car 44 unnecessarily impeded Car 81 during qualifying. In accordance with the FIA F1 Regulations and the established penalty guidelines for this type of infringement in qualifying, the Stewards impose a three-place grid penalty on the driver of Car 44.”
Piastri will be pleased with the outcome, given he had been critical of Hamilton’s driving in the media pen before that verdict was confirmed. He said: “It was just Lewis not looking in his mirrors. A shame, because it meant I didn’t get a lap in either way. Clearly the car has been quick today. I’ve certainly been chasing it, it’s not been easy, but clearly there’s performance there.”