SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS: The Ferrari team has been fined around US$33,500 after Lewis Hamilton hit his own mechanic during a pit stop at the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday, reported PA Media/dpa.
Hamilton caused a member of his pit crew to fall after he moved out of the pit bay upon receiving the electronic green signal.
At that time, the mechanic was making adjustments to the front wing of Hamilton’s car before being hit and falling to the ground.
“Is he okay?” Hamilton asked anxiously over the team radio.
His race engineer, Carlos Santi, replied: “He’s okay. We’re all okay.”
A Ferrari spokesman later confirmed that the mechanic “suffered no immediate injuries” and did not require any medical treatment.
However, Ferrari was summoned to appear before the stewards’ panel, while Hamilton’s position in fourth place was also at risk if he was given a second penalty.
Hamilton, 41, was previously given a five-second penalty after a collision on the first lap that caused George Russell to be unable to continue the race.
Ferrari were eventually fined, part of which was a 12-month suspension. Hamilton escaped a second penalty, remaining 45 points behind Kimi Antonelli in the championship standings.
Following the stewards’ panel’s decision, the FIA ​​said in a statement: “The team is committed to reviewing its pit stop procedures to ensure that incidents like this do not recur.”
“Not only did the incident not provide any competitive advantage, but it also caused the number 44 car to suffer losses when its pit stop became longer. Therefore, the incident does not warrant a sporting punishment, but a large fine should be imposed on the team.”
Former Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen once caused one of his mechanics to break his leg in a horrific pit stop incident at the Bahrain Grand Prix eight years ago.
Hamilton said: “Oh my God, I’m really grateful my mechanic wasn’t hurt. I just saw the traffic lights and I should have moved as soon as the car hit the floor.
“I was moving and then I saw him on my right, so I stopped as quickly as I could. What was going through my mind at that moment was the incident involving Kimi. At first I thought the same thing had happened, but he got up and moved.
“I move when the light turns green. Unsafe clearance usually refers to a situation that endangers other cars, and not necessarily endangers the team itself.”
Hamilton crashed in the final free practice session on Saturday before starting the race from fifth place. His car’s floor was then damaged after colliding with Russell.
However, the seven-time world champion will head to next weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix hoping to add to his record of eight wins at the Budapest circuit.
“I need to get back to showing my best performance and performing like I know I can in Budapest and compete for the win,” he said.
— BERNAMA-PA MEDIA/dpa
