Ferrari fined €30,000 over Hamilton pit stop incident

Ferrari have been handed a €30,000 fine by the FIA following an unsafe release during Lewis Hamilton's pit stop at the Belgian Grand Prix. A mechanic was struck by the car and knocked to the ground as Hamilton was released from his pit box, although he escaped injury.

The incident occurred on Lap 20, when Hamilton pitted under the Virtual Safety Car while serving a five-second penalty for his opening-lap collision with George Russell.

After the penalty had been served, Ferrari began changing the tyres on Hamilton's car. However, confusion over a requested front-wing adjustment led to a mechanic carrying a front-wing tool moving into the path of the car's front-right tyre just as Hamilton was given the signal to leave the box.

The mechanic was hit and fell to the ground, prompting Hamilton to stop immediately before continuing once the area was clear.

The FIA Stewards concluded that Ferrari had released the car in an unsafe manner. The team explained that the incident resulted from a combination of factors, including a late instruction regarding the front-wing adjustment, a lack of clear communication between the crew and the mechanic failing to notice the green light signalling that the car was ready to leave.

The Stewards confirmed that Hamilton was not at fault and that the incident did not warrant a sporting penalty. However, they deemed a significant financial sanction appropriate, fining Ferrari €30,000.

Of that amount, €10,000 has been suspended for 12 months, provided Ferrari does not commit a similar infringement during that period. The team must also submit a report to the FIA outlining the incident and the measures it plans to introduce to reduce the risk of a repeat.