• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
FIA confirm investigation after incident involving Lewis Hamilton in Japanese Grand Prix qualifying

Home> F1

Updated 10:34 5 Apr 2025 GMT+1Published 09:44 5 Apr 2025 GMT+1

FIA confirm investigation after incident involving Lewis Hamilton in Japanese Grand Prix qualifying

"Drivers shouldn't do that, it is dangerous. They can't purely rely on radio."

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare

An incident involving seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz in Japanese Grand Prix qualifying has been placed under investigation by the FIA.

It was another frustrating day at the office for Hamilton, who struggled to find pace for Ferrari and will start Sunday’s much-anticipated race at the Suzuka Circuit from eighth position.

The Brit even admitted that his final laps in qualifying were “not good enough”, adding: "I was happy to get into Q3, it’s a really tight battle, just didn't get great laps in in Q3.”

Advert

One of the big talking points from qualifying took place during Q2, when Hamilton came close a slow-moving Carlos Sainz through the first two corners, which in turn forced the Ferrari driver to back away.

In fact, it was later confirmed that Sainz had been summoned to the stewards for allegedly impeding Hamilton going into the first corner, as seen below.

The summons was issued after qualifying, with both drivers called after an “Alleged breach of Article 37.5 of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations – Car 55 [Sainz] allegedly impeding Car 44 [Hamilton] in Turn 1 at 15:47.”

Advert

Article 37.5 reads: “Any driver taking part in any free practice session, the qualifying session or the sprint qualifying session who, in the opinion of the stewards, stops unnecessarily on the circuit or unnecessarily impedes another driver shall be subject to the penalties referred to in Article 37.4.”

Now, it has been confirmed that Sainz has been hit with a three-place grid penalty after impeding Hamilton, meaning he has fallen down from his 13th-place qualifying position.

Speaking on Sky F1's coverage on Saturday, former Williams driver Jacques Villeneuve described the incident as "dangerous", adding: "Drivers shouldn't do that. They can't purely rely on radio."

Hamilton, meanwhile, is optimistic ahead of the race on Sunday.

Advert

“We are running higher than we'd like,” he said. “I don't know if everyone is in the same boat in that respect, it’s higher than we want to be from the weekend before. Charles did a great lap. I had a lot of understeer and couldn't dial it up for qualifying.”

Asked about the chances of it being a wet-race, Hamilton added: “I’m excited, I love the rain. It'll be tricky, if you have a qualifying like that you hope for rain, so hopefully it stays.”

Featured Image Credit: Getty Images

Topics: Lewis Hamilton, Formula 1, Japan

Jack Kenmare
Jack Kenmare

Jack is a Senior Journalist who enjoys a long read. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of Football Manager wonderkids from 2005 to the present day, and has interviewed a handful of FM's finest, including Freddy Adu, Supat Rungratsamee and Mika Aaritalo.

X

@jackkenmare_

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

8 hours ago
9 hours ago
11 hours ago
  • 8 hours ago

    Seven F1 drivers at risk of Canadian GP penalty after being placed under investigation by FIA

    The result of the Canadian GP is not official yet.

    F1
  • 9 hours ago

    Lando Norris' immediate reaction speaks volumes after high-speed crash with team-mate Oscar Piastri at Canadian GP

    Norris and Piastri had a high-speed crash at the end of the Canadian GP.

    F1
  • 9 hours ago

    F1 fans are demanding answers after latest Ferrari radio message to Lewis Hamilton during Canadian GP

    Hamilton ran fifth in the early stages of the Canadian GP before dropping back.

    F1
  • 11 hours ago

    Formula One driver handed one of the biggest penalties ever just hours before Canadian Grand Prix

    A top F1 star has been handed one of the harshest grid penalties in Formula One history before the Canadian Grand Prix.

    F1
  • Lewis Hamilton admits Ferrari made major change to his car after dismal qualifying session at Japanese Grand Prix
  • Lewis Hamilton releases strong statement after 'painful' qualifying at US Grand Prix
  • Lewis Hamilton involved in brutally awkward moment with FIA president following Bahrain Grand Prix
  • The one major difference between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc's Ferraris for Japanese Grand Prix