Lewis Hamilton was officially reprimanded by Formula 1 stewards after he was found to have obstructed Liam Lawson during the practice session at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Lawson had to take evasive action while on a fast lap when he encountered a slower Hamilton through the high-speed left-right corners leading to the main straight in Baku during the second practice.
The Red Bull driver expressed his frustration over the team radio, calling Hamilton’s move “so dangerous.” After the event, seven-time world champion Hamilton attributed the incident to the new 2026 engine regulations, explaining that he was harvesting energy in the final sector when the close call happened.
Although the stewards considered Hamilton’s explanation, they ruled the Ferrari driver responsible for “severe” and unnecessary impeding, noting that the 41-year-old Brit failed to comply with the traffic management guidelines outlined by the race director before the weekend. Typically, such an infringement during a free practice would warrant only a warning, but due to the seriousness of this case, Hamilton received a formal reprimand.
The stewards’ statement clarified that Hamilton was on an out lap while Lawson was on a flying lap, and he had been warned twice by his team about Lawson approaching. The race director’s notes require slower cars to stay on the extreme left between Turns 16 and 18 to allow faster cars to pass safely. However, Hamilton did not keep to this guideline and stayed on the racing line approaching Turn 19, forcing Lawson to lift and brake slightly. Consequently, the stewards determined Hamilton did not follow instructions and impeded Lawson unnecessarily.
Given the high-speed nature of the corners and the specific instructions given, the stewards considered the impeding to be severe, despite Hamilton showing no malicious intent. They also acknowledged the challenge of managing energy deployment in that part of the track and noted both drivers agreed the speed difference there is significant when energy reserves are low. In light of these factors, Hamilton was handed a driving reprimand.
This marks Hamilton’s second reprimand of the 2026 season, the first being for not slowing down during a yellow flag at the British Grand Prix in Silverstone. Drivers are allowed up to four penalty-free reprimands in a season; receiving a fifth results in an automatic 10-place grid penalty for their next race.
Fan Take:
This incident highlights how new technical regulations are creating fresh challenges for drivers, influencing on-track behavior and race etiquette. For racing fans, it serves as a reminder of how even the most experienced drivers must adapt quickly to evolving rules, which can add unpredictability and drama to each race weekend.
Source: www.crash.net
