Lewis Hamilton Says FP3 Crash Triggered 2026 Belgian GP Penalty

Formula 1, Sportrik Media - Lewis Hamilton believes his FP3 crash started a chain reaction that ultimately led to his collision with George Russell and a five-second penalty at the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix.

Hamilton lost control while exiting the Fagnes chicane on his final flying lap in FP3. His Ferrari SF-26 travelled across the gravel before striking the barrier with the rear, damaging the rear wing and leaving one of the rear wheels displaced from its normal position.

Ferrari’s mechanics repaired the car in time for qualifying, but Hamilton felt its set-up and condition were no longer optimal. He qualified only fifth, below the potential he believed would have allowed him to fight near the front of the grid.

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“I take responsibility for my incident. It then had a knock-on effect because the set-up was not right and I was out of position in qualifying,” Hamilton said.

On the opening lap, George Russell lost battery power while climbing towards Eau Rouge. Hamilton and Charles Leclerc capitalised by passing him along the Kemmel Straight before Russell attempted to fight back approaching Les Combes.

Hamilton remained on the inside as Russell moved around the outside. The two cars then made contact, sending Russell spinning into the gravel and immediately ending his race.

Hamilton believes the lower starting position created by the previous day’s crash placed him in that situation. He suggested the collision may not have occurred had his car been operating correctly and started from second or third.

“With the set-up right, I think we could have been fighting for third or second. Starting further back meant I ended up in that position with George,” he explained.

The stewards found Hamilton responsible for causing the collision and issued a five-second penalty. The contact also damaged the floor of the Ferrari, which Hamilton estimated cost him approximately 50 points of downforce for the remainder of the race.

The combination of aerodynamic damage and the penalty prevented Hamilton from mounting a strong podium challenge. Nevertheless, he brought the car home in fourth while managing increased understeer and a compromised balance.

Hamilton continued to regard the contact with Russell as a racing incident. He accepted responsibility for the FP3 crash and its wider consequences, but disagreed with the stewards’ decision to sanction him.

“I did the best job I could with the damage I had. As for the penalty, I think it was a racing incident. Honestly, I did not believe it should have been a penalty,” Hamilton said.