Lewis Hamilton made contact with a Ferrari pit crew member during his scheduled stop at the Belgian Grand Prix today, Sunday, July 19, 2026. The incident occurred as the Ferrari driver was released from his pit box at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. Hamilton’s right-front tyre struck the mechanic, who was positioned in front of the wheel.
The mechanic was knocked to the ground but was quickly confirmed to be unhurt by the team. Hamilton immediately queried over team radio, ‘Is he okay? It went green.’
Race Control has initiated an investigation into a potential unsafe release. The verdict from the stewards is expected after the race concludes. Responsibility for such incidents typically rests with the team, which must ensure the pit lane is clear before a car’s departure.
This pit stop incident followed an earlier collision involving Hamilton and George Russell on the opening lap of the 44-lap race. The contact occurred at Les Combes, where Russell attempted an outside manoeuvre on Hamilton.
Hamilton’s Ferrari SF-26 experienced oversteer, causing it to slide into Russell’s Mercedes W17. Russell was subsequently sent spinning into the gravel trap, ending his race prematurely.
Russell expressed frustration regarding a battery issue that he stated left him vulnerable on the Kemmel straight. He reported the battery did not recharge at Turn 1, resulting in a 35% power deficit and no boost at Eau Rouge.
‘The battery didn’t charge and I exited the first corner 35% down. And because it didn’t charge, I also had a boost problem. The turbo didn’t sort itself out, so I had no power. I got to the top of Eau Rouge with 0% on the battery. Quite frankly, it was dangerous. I got swamped by three cars.’
Despite the impact, Russell considered the contact with Hamilton a ‘race incident,’ not an intentional act. Hamilton received a five-second time penalty for causing the collision, which he served during the pit stop where the mechanic was struck.
The opening lap incident necessitated the deployment of a Safety Car. Hamilton’s weekend at Spa-Francorchamps has been challenging, beginning with a crash in the final free practice session.
His SF-26 sustained significant damage at Stavelot, requiring extensive repair work by Ferrari mechanics before qualifying. Hamilton qualified fifth and started the race from the fifth position after Lando Norris incurred a 10-place grid penalty.
The Belgian Grand Prix marks the tenth round of the 2026 Formula 1 season. Kimi Antonelli started from pole position, with Max Verstappen alongside him on the front row.
Antonelli currently leads the Drivers’ Championship, holding a 25-point advantage over George Russell, with Hamilton a further seven points behind Russell. Ferrari is also in contention for the Constructors’ Championship this season.
The race commenced at 3 PM local time, with light showers forecast around the Spa-Francorchamps circuit.
