F1 LIVE: SPANISH GP DECISIONS MADE AMID INVESTIGATION AS HA….SEE MORE IN COMMENT

F1 LIVE: SPANISH GP DECISIONS MADE AMID INVESTIGATION AS HA….SEE MORE IN COMMENT

FIA investigation clears Hamilton’s Ferrari after Barcelona win
Decisions have been made following the Spanish GP as the FIA confirmed Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari passed an “extensive” post-race inspection. After winning the Barcelona-Catalunya GP on June 12 — his first victory for Ferrari — car #44 was randomly selected for checks on the rear brake system, including brake-by-wire software, sensors, data logging and homologation status. FIA Technical Delegate Jo Bauer confirmed “all inspected components were found to be in conformance with the 2026 Formula One Technical Regulations”. The win moved Hamilton to within 41 points of championship leader Kimi Antonelli and was ratified after the checks.
Off-track, Ferrari launched its own internal review into Hamilton’s performance in Barcelona. Team principal Fred Vasseur said they had “question marks over the tyres” and needed to understand a “significant drop in performance in the final part of the race” where Hamilton fell from fighting for the podium to sixth. Hamilton later called it “a relief” to discover he had been “massively” hindered by a technical issue. The frustration has carried into Monza, where Hamilton demanded Ferrari introduce written “rules of engagement” after his lap-1 clash with Charles Leclerc. “If we continue to travel the same path, we get the same result. We’ve got to change things,” he said, placing responsibility “from the top” with Vasseur.

The Spanish GP result had big championship implications. Hamilton’s victory came as Antonelli’s run of five straight wins ended, and Mercedes boss Toto Wolff admitted “there is now a third party getting involved in the championship fight, both constructor and driver”. Antonelli still leads, but Ferrari reclaimed second in the constructors’ standings after Barcelona. With Hamilton now 76 points behind Antonelli after Monza, he says it’s “far too late” for vague team orders and wants formalised agreements so Ferrari don’t keep “losing ground” to Mercedes. All eyes now turn to Madrid as F1 prepares for the next round, with Ferrari promising to take Hamilton’s demands “offline” after the next race.