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Following the 2024 Miami Grand Prix sprint race, the FIA has delivered its verdict regarding Lewis Hamilton’s involvement in the first-lap incident at Turn 1. Despite the chaos that ensued—resulting in Lando Norris’s retirement and damage to both Aston Martins—the stewards opted not to penalize Hamilton. Their decision was based on the assessment that no single driver was “wholly or predominantly to blame” for the multiple collisions that occurred during the congested first corner, where greater leniency is typically applied .
However, Hamilton did not emerge from the sprint without consequence. During a safety car period, all cars were directed through the pit lane due to debris on the track. Hamilton was recorded exceeding the pit lane speed limit by 10.7 km/h, leading to a post-race drive-through penalty converted into a 20-second time penalty. This demoted him from eighth to sixteenth place, stripping him of any points from the sprint .
The FIA also investigated a separate incident involving Hamilton during sprint qualifying, where Mercedes personnel worked on his car’s front wing without the required protective gear. Acknowledging that multiple teams committed similar infractions, the stewards decided against further action .
The FIA’s decisions have sparked debate among fans and drivers alike. Fernando Alonso, who suffered a puncture in the Turn 1 incident, expressed frustration over the lack of immediate action against Hamilton, suggesting that his own nationality might have influenced past penalties . Meanwhile, some fans viewed Hamilton’s pit lane penalty as “karma” for the earlier collision .
As the championship progresses, these incidents underscore the ongoing discussions about consistency and fairness in FIA’s regulatory decisions.