Lewis Hamilton has received an FIA warning after impeding Audi driver Gabriel Bortoleto during practice for the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, while Ferrari has been fined €10,000.
The incident occurred during FP2 at Sepang when Hamilton moved onto the racing line approaching Turn 9 as Bortoleto closed rapidly from behind.
Hamilton was dealing with damage to his right-hand mirror at the time and received no warning from Ferrari about the approaching Audi. The speed difference between the two cars exceeded 150km/h, forcing Bortoleto to take evasive action.
FIA Explains Hamilton Warning
The stewards investigated the incident after the session and decided a warning was appropriate for Hamilton.
Ferrari received a €10,000 fine because the team failed to alert its driver to the approaching traffic, particularly given Hamilton’s damaged mirror.
“The Stewards accept that HAM’s right-hand mirror was damaged, as confirmed by photographic and video evidence, and that he had received no radio warning from the team,” the stewards wrote in their verdict. “Both team representatives stated that such warnings are not normally issued where the approaching car is not on a push lap. BOR also confirmed that he remained in control of the situation.
“Nevertheless, the Stewards considered that HAM unnecessarily impeded the significantly faster approaching car by moving onto the racing line at slow speed. The fact that BOR was not on a push lap does not alter that conclusion.
“The Stewards also considered whether the incident should be regarded as dangerous impeding. In particular, they considered the high closing speed as well as the fact that a driver, who is aware that one of his mirrors is damaged, should exercise additional care before moving onto the racing line. However, BOR remained in control and was able to avoid HAM.”
The stewards considered several factors before deciding against a stronger sanction for Hamilton.
They added: “The Stewards considered the damaged mirror and the fact that BOR was not on a push lap as mitigating circumstances. These were balanced against the significant speed differential, HAM’s movement onto the racing line and the resulting need for BOR to take evasive action.”
Ferrari Takes €10,000 Fine
Ferrari’s failure to warn Hamilton played a key role in the team’s financial penalty.
With Hamilton’s visibility already reduced by the damaged mirror, the stewards felt Ferrari should have taken greater responsibility for informing him about traffic approaching from behind.
The decision leaves Hamilton with a warning rather than a sporting penalty heading into the remainder of the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend.
Ferrari Shows Strong Friday Pace at Sepang
Hamilton finished Friday practice fifth, while team-mate Charles Leclerc set the fastest time of the day.
Leclerc led Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar and McLaren driver Lando Norris in FP2, giving Ferrari an encouraging result ahead of qualifying.
Team principal Fred Vasseur played down the importance of Friday’s final positions and instead highlighted track evolution and tyre degradation as major factors for the rest of the weekend.
“Nothing really matters on Friday in terms of the leaderboard, but being fastest is no bad thing, so I guess at least an OK day,” Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur said.
“It will be a lot about track evolution as we try to anticipate how the track will be tomorrow, and it’s a challenge for everybody. It will be a lot about [tyre] degradation, because compared to the previous events this one is on the huge degradation side. Race pace will be mainly based on degradation.”
Ferrari therefore ends Friday at Sepang with encouraging pace but also a financial penalty following Hamilton’s incident with Bortoleto. The seven-time world champion escapes a grid penalty, leaving his focus on qualifying and the fight at the front.
