Source: REUTERS /Amanda Perobelli
[Saba Sports News] During the Brazilian Grand Prix Sprint Qualifying, Lewis Hamilton was investigated for failing to sufficiently slow under double yellow flags, but the FIA ultimately decided to issue only a verbal warning rather than a more severe grid penalty. This ruling allowed the seven-time F1 world champion to retain his P11 starting position for the Sprint Race. The incident occurred in SQ2. At that time, Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc spun at Turn 10, leading to double yellow flags being displayed. Hamilton was pushing to return to the finish line to start his final timed lap but couldn’t complete it in time. FIA analysis of car data found he did not significantly reduce speed through the incident area as required. However, the stewards noted mitigating circumstances: according to onboard footage and telemetry data, the double yellow warning lights were illuminated for less than a second as he passed, and he was focused on the turn-in point, looking to the right, thus failing to notice the flashing lights on the left. The FIA found this explanation credible. Furthermore, citing previous similar cases, the stewards considered this incident comparable to others where no immediate danger was created and thus decided, based on the principle of consistency, to issue a formal warning instead of the customary five-place grid penalty.