Untelevised team radio from the Belgian Grand Prix has revealed Lewis Hamilton’s immediate reaction to his first-lap collision with George Russell. Hamilton stated he was in an ‘impossible position’ during the incident at Les Combes. This footage emerges as an imminent meeting between Formula 1 drivers and the FIA is set to address controversial penalty decisions from the recent Belgian Grand Prix.
The meeting will take place in Budapest, ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend, which runs from July 24-26, 2026. Hamilton’s five-second penalty for the collision with Russell is on the agenda. Also under review is the decision to take no action against Charles Leclerc following his contact with Oscar Piastri.
During the Belgian Grand Prix on July 19, 2026, Hamilton, driving for Ferrari, made contact with Russell’s Mercedes on the opening lap. Russell spun into the gravel and retired from the race. Stewards deemed Hamilton at fault due to understeer, despite his attempts to avoid the collision.
Hamilton’s race engineer, Carlo Santi, was informed by Hamilton that a car had crossed in front, leaving him with no front end. Hamilton later insisted, ‘That was an impossible position.’ He also questioned his car’s condition, asking if his wing was intact.
Despite the stewards’ ruling, Russell, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, publicly stated that he believed the incident was a ‘racing incident’ and that Hamilton did not deserve a penalty. Russell attributed his compromised position to a power unit issue.
Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur echoed this sentiment, calling Hamilton’s penalty ‘harsh.’ Vasseur noted that other first-lap incidents during the current season had been classified as racing incidents. Hamilton ultimately finished fourth in the Belgian Grand Prix after serving his penalty.
The second incident under scrutiny involves Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. On Lap 8 at Spa, the two drivers made contact at the Kemmel Straight into Turn 5 as Piastri attempted an overtake. Piastri’s car sustained floor damage, impacting his race performance.
The stewards investigated the Leclerc-Piastri collision but decided against issuing a penalty. Their verdict stated that Piastri had not established sufficient overlap to claim the corner and that Leclerc did not deliberately force him off track. Piastri expressed his confusion over the decision, suggesting a black-and-white flag was warranted.
McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella also questioned the stewards’ criteria, warning that similar uncontrolled contact could lead to a ‘very big’ crash. Leclerc finished second in the Belgian Grand Prix, with Piastri in fifth.
This marks the second consecutive race weekend where Hamilton has received a penalty. At the British Grand Prix on July 5, 2026, he was handed a five-second time penalty for a false start. His car moved before the lights extinguished, although he managed to stop before proceeding.
The FIA updated its penalty and racing rules for the 2026 season, aiming to apply penalty points primarily for dangerous, reckless, or deliberate actions resulting in collisions. The upcoming meeting in Budapest will provide a platform for drivers to discuss these guidelines and recent interpretations by the stewards.
