JUST IN: FIA announce Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen penalty verdicts at Dutch Grand Prix following….read more

The FIA has decided against imposing penalties on Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen and three other Formula 1 drivers after they were found to have breached the International Sporting Code during the Dutch Grand Prix sprint weekend.

Hamilton and Verstappen both competed in Saturday’s sprint at Zandvoort, finishing seventh and sixth respectively. However, before the race began, the FIA confirmed that the pair, along with Yuki Tsunoda, Lance Stroll and Valtteri Bottas, had been investigated for an alleged breach of the sporting regulations.

The five drivers were found to have failed to comply with Article 12.2.1.i of the FIA International Sporting Code, which relates to non-compliance with instructions contained in the Race Director’s Event Notes.

The incident occurred while the drivers were making their way towards the starting grid ahead of the sprint. According to the FIA, Hamilton, Verstappen, Tsunoda, Stroll and Bottas stopped their cars before reaching Safety Line One.

That action was contrary to instructions outlined in the Race Director’s Event Notes. Item 24 specifically referred to Article B5.2.4 of the FIA Formula 1 Sporting Regulations, which sets out requirements for cars completing their reconnaissance lap and reaching the grid under their own power.

Despite the technical breach, the FIA ultimately chose not to punish any of the five drivers. The decision means Hamilton and Verstappen were able to compete normally in the sprint without receiving grid penalties, time penalties or other sporting sanctions.

The outcome will come as a relief to the drivers and their respective teams, particularly given the importance of every point during the championship battle. Hamilton finished seventh in the sprint, while Verstappen secured sixth place, adding valuable points to their respective championship campaigns.

The FIA’s decision also highlights the distinction between a technical breach of the regulations and an offence serious enough to warrant a sporting penalty. While the stewards acknowledged that the drivers had not followed the Race Director’s instructions precisely, they determined that punishment was not necessary in this instance.

With the Dutch Grand Prix weekend continuing, attention now turns to Sunday’s main race at Zandvoort. Hamilton and Verstappen will both be hoping to improve on their sprint results and fight for stronger points when the full-distance contest gets underway.

For now, the FIA verdict ensures that neither driver will carry an additional penalty into the remainder of the Dutch Grand Prix weekend.