Lewis Hamilton has voiced significant frustration regarding the FIA’s stewarding decisions, following a series of penalties incurred during the current 2026 Formula 1 season. His comments came after receiving four sanctions across the British, Belgian, and Hungarian Grands Prix.
During the recent Hungarian Grand Prix, Hamilton received two separate penalties. He was handed a three-place grid drop for impeding Oscar Piastri during qualifying, which demoted him from second to fifth on the starting grid.
Hamilton acknowledged the impeding incident as a ‘communication error,’ stating he should have checked his mirrors.
In the Hungarian Grand Prix race, Hamilton received a five-second time penalty for speeding in the pit lane under a Virtual Safety Car. He exceeded the 80 km/h limit by a margin of 0.1 km/h.
This pit lane infringement dropped him from fourth to fifth in the final classification, placing him behind teammate Charles Leclerc.
Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur attributed the pit lane speeding to a ‘succession of mistakes,’ including a locked wheel during the pit stop.
Vasseur noted that the FIA allows a small leeway, with the limit effectively 80.05 km/h, which Hamilton exceeded at 80.06 km/h.
Prior to Hungary, Hamilton received a five-second penalty at the Belgian Grand Prix for a first-lap collision with George Russell. The incident resulted in Russell’s retirement.
Vasseur maintained that the collision with Russell was a ‘racing incident’ and stated he would instruct Hamilton to act similarly if faced with the same situation again.
Ferrari also incurred a €30,000 fine at Spa for an unsafe pit stop release involving Hamilton and a mechanic, though Hamilton himself faced no further sporting penalty for this.
At the British Grand Prix earlier this season, Hamilton was given a five-second penalty for a jump start, where his car moved slightly before the lights extinguished. He finished that race in third position.
These penalties have impacted Hamilton’s championship standing, as he currently sits second in the drivers’ championship, 50 points behind leader Kimi Antonelli.
Hamilton confirmed that stewarding decisions were a topic of discussion in the drivers’ briefing at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
He stated that he argued his Silverstone false start penalty, and the FIA ‘agreed’ that drivers should not be penalised for minor movements if they remain within their box before the lights go out.
‘Every opportunity that I give those stewards, every single time they give me a penalty!’ Hamilton stated over team radio after the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Hamilton has expressed his intent to ‘make sure I don’t give them any reason to give me any penalties moving forwards.’
