Scuderia Ferrari HP was fined €10,000, equivalent to £8,500, after the FIA stewards found Lewis Hamilton impeded Gabriel Bortoleto during practice on Oct. 2, 2026. Hamilton received a formal warning, the standard penalty for impeding during a practice session. The stewards said his damaged right-hand mirror and Bortoleto’s status on an out lap were mitigating circumstances, but concluded Ferrari should have warned Hamilton that a much faster car was approaching.

According to the stewards, Hamilton was travelling at about 80 to 85 km/h as he approached Turn 9. Bortoleto was behind him at about 240 km/h, producing a closing speed of approximately 155 to 160 km/h. Bortoleto was on an out lap rather than a push lap.

The stewards said Hamilton moved from the middle of the track towards the racing line at the end of the straight. That prompted Bortoleto to brake and take evasive action. They found Hamilton unnecessarily impeded the significantly faster car by moving onto the racing line at slow speed, and said Bortoleto’s lack of a push lap did not change that conclusion.

“[Hamilton] was travelling slowly approaching turn nine at approximately 80-85 kph when [Bortoleto], who was on an out lap and not on a push lap, approached from behind at approximately 240 km/h, resulting in a closing speed of approximately 155-160 kph,” the stewards said. “Hamilton moved from the middle of the track towards the racing line, at the end of the straight causing Bortoleto to brake and take evasive action.”

Hamilton pointed out that his right-hand mirror was broken. The stewards accepted that the damage was supported by photographic and video evidence, and noted that Hamilton had received no radio warning from Ferrari. Both team representatives said warnings were not normally given when an approaching car was not on a push lap. Bortoleto confirmed he remained in control of the situation.

The stewards considered whether the incident amounted to dangerous impeding. They said a driver aware of a damaged mirror should take extra care before moving onto the racing line, particularly given the high closing speed. However, Bortoleto stayed in control and was able to avoid Hamilton, which the stewards considered alongside the damaged mirror and Bortoleto’s out lap as mitigating factors.

“The stewards considered the damaged mirror and the fact that Bortoleto was not on a push lap as mitigating circumstances. These were balanced against the significant speed differential, Hamilton’s movement onto the racing line and the resulting need for Bortoleto to take evasive action,” the ruling said. “Taking all the above into account, the stewards determine that the standard penalty for impeding during a practice session, which is a Warning, is appropriate.”

The stewards separately assessed Ferrari’s responsibility. They said the team knew Hamilton’s right-hand mirror was damaged and should have provided radio warnings about significantly faster approaching cars, whether or not those cars were on push laps. They concluded Ferrari failed to give Hamilton appropriate information while his ability to monitor traffic was materially impaired.

“The Team was aware that Hamilton’s right-hand mirror was damaged. As such, the stewards determine that the Team should have provided appropriate radio warnings of significantly faster approaching cars, irrespective of whether those cars were on a push lap or not,” the decision said. “The stewards therefore determine that the team failed to provide its driver with appropriate information in circumstances where it knew that his ability to observe approaching traffic was materially impaired by the damaged mirror and impose a fine of €10,000 on Scuderia Ferrari HP.”

Based on reporting by RaceFans.