Ferrari Fined $33,500 After Hamilton Hits Mechanic at Belgian Grand Prix

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) imposed a financial penalty on the Ferrari team amounting to $33,500, following an unexpected incident involving one of the team's mechanics during the Belgian Grand Prix. The incident occurred when British driver Lewis Hamilton struck the mechanic while leaving the pit lane, sparking widespread concern within the team.

Incident Details and Immediate Repercussions

Hamilton, aged 41, caused a team member to fall after responding to the electronic green light signal to leave the garage. The mechanic was adjusting the front wing of Hamilton's car when he fell to the ground, prompting the driver to ask over the radio with concern: "Is he okay?" Race engineer Carlos Santi replied: "He's fine. We're all fine."

Team Response and Official Statement

A spokesperson for Ferrari later confirmed that the mechanic was "not injured at all" and did not require medical assistance. Nevertheless, the Ferrari team was summoned to the stewards, and Hamilton's fourth-place finish was at risk if an additional time penalty was imposed. Hamilton had already received a five-second penalty earlier in the race for colliding with fellow Briton George Russell on the first lap, further complicating the situation.

FIA Decision and Partial Suspension

The FIA issued a statement explaining that the fine was imposed instead of a sporting penalty, as the incident did not provide any sporting advantage but did cause sporting damage to car number 44, which was delayed in the pit stop. The statement added: "The team has committed to reviewing pit stop procedures to ensure a similar incident does not recur." Part of the fine was suspended for 12 months, leaving Hamilton 45 points behind Italian driver Kimi Antonelli in the race standings.

Painful Memories and Past Incident

Hamilton referenced a similar incident from eight years ago, when former Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen broke a mechanic's leg during a catastrophic pit stop in Bahrain. Hamilton commented: "My God, I'm just grateful my mechanic wasn't hurt. I was watching the lights, and I was supposed to go when the car dropped to the ground." He added: "I went when the light turned green, but I stopped as quickly as I could when I saw him on my right."