Lewis Hamilton received an official warning and Ferrari was fined i10,000 (approximately £8,500) for impeding Gabriel Bortoleto during the second practice session of the Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia. The stewards announced the decision after investigating an incident that involved extreme closing speeds and compromised car conditions.
The incident occurred at Turn 9 when Hamilton was traveling slowly at around 80-85 km/h, while Bortoleto, on an out lap, approached from behind at approximately 240 km/h. The closing speed reached 155-160 km/h, and Hamilton moved from the middle of the track onto the racing line, forcing the Audi driver to brake and take evasive action. The stewards deemed that Hamilton "unnecessarily impeded" the significantly faster car.
Mitigating factors included damage to Hamilton's right-hand mirror, confirmed by photographic and video evidence. Hamilton claimed he could not see properly, and the team did not provide a radio warning. However, the stewards emphasized that the fact Bortoleto was not on a push lap did not alter the conclusion that Hamilton unnecessarily impeded him.
The stewards also considered whether the incident should be regarded as dangerous impeding. They highlighted the high closing speed and the fact that a driver aware of a damaged mirror should exercise additional care before moving onto the racing line. Nevertheless, Bortoleto remained in control and avoided contact. Balancing mitigating and aggravating factors, the stewards determined that the standard penalty for impeding during a practice session—a warning—was appropriate.
Furthermore, Ferrari was found to have failed in its responsibility by not providing appropriate radio warnings to Hamilton despite knowing about the damaged mirror. The stewards stated that the team should have warned the driver of significantly faster approaching cars, irrespective of whether they were on a push lap. As a result, Ferrari was fined i10,000.
This decision serves as a reminder for F1 teams about the importance of effective radio communication, especially when a driver has limited visibility. The incident also highlights the risks during practice sessions, where speed differences between cars can be substantial and potentially dangerous. Ferrari and Hamilton must be more vigilant in the future, particularly if car conditions are not perfect.
Baca Juga
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