Lewis Hamilton called into stewards as FIA open investigation

Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes have been summoned to the stewards as the FIA investigate an incident during Miami Grand Prix qualifying. Hamiton almost collided with Kevin Magnussen in Q1 after the Haas star slowed down in the braking zone of turn 17. 

Hamilton knocked his front wing on the concrete wall as he attempted to avoid the Dane. Race stewards immediately noted the incident and later revealed the near-miss would be investigated after the session. 

The FIA then issued an official summons to Hamilton and Magnussen after qualifying had ended. Hamilton’s letter read: “The driver and team representative are required to report to the Stewards at 17:30 (22:30 UK time), in relation to the incident below: 

“Driver 44 – Lewis Hamilton. Reason Alleged breaches of Article 33.4 & 37.5 of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations – Incident between Car 20 and Car 44 in turn 17 at 16:06.”

Article 33.4 states that drivers should not drive “unnecessarily slowly” or in a way which could be deemed “potentially dangerous”. Meanwhile, 37.5 states competitors who drive too slowly could be subject to penalties. 

45 minutes after the meeting began, the stewards released their verdict with no further action taken. The stewards admitted they reached their decision after speaking to both Magnussen and Hamilton, team representatives and viewing video evidence. 

However, Magnussen dodged a penalty after officials accepted that Magnussen was forced to slow down himself for another car.

They concluded: “Car 44 was on an in-lap and could see Car 20 at the end of the straight. The unexpectedly high speed differential between the two cars resulted in Car 44 having to take evasive action to avoid a collision. 

 “Given that neither car was on a fast lap and the fact that Car 20 had another slow car ahead of it, we did not consider either driver to be driving dangerously. 

“Given that they were not on fast laps, there was no question of impeding either. So in the circumstances, we decided to take no further action.”