Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton summoned by FIA over Gabriel Bortoleto impeding incident at Sepang

Lewis Hamilton was summoned by the FIA stewards following an alleged impeding incident involving Gabriel Bortoleto during Bahrain Grand Prix FP2 at Sepang. The Ferrari driver was called to explain what happened at Turn 9 after the Audi encountered Hamilton’s SF-26 during the middle part of the session.

The FIA issued document number 20 at 16:40 on October 2, identifying car number 44, driven by Lewis Hamilton, and car number 5, driven by Bortoleto. The Briton and a Ferrari representative were instructed to report to the stewards at 17:30 local time as the officials examined whether an infringement had taken place.

Lewis Hamilton investigated for alleged impeding at Turn 9

The summons concerned a possible breach of Article B4.1.1 of the sporting regulations. The incident was recorded at 16:24, when Bortoleto was completing an out lap and encountered Hamilton, who was on a cooldown lap during Bahrain Grand Prix FP2 at Sepang.

Gabriel Bortoleto expressed his frustration over the team radio after coming across the Ferrari, making clear that he was unhappy with the way the situation had unfolded.

Mirror problem could be important to FIA assessment

One detail potentially relevant to the stewards’ investigation was a problem Hamilton had already reported with his right-hand mirror. The seven-time world champion informed Ferrari that his rearward visibility was compromised and asked the team to keep him updated about cars approaching from behind.

Those radio communications, together with the condition of the mirror, were therefore expected to form part of Hamilton’s explanation when the stewards assessed whether he could reasonably have been aware of Bortoleto approaching.

No penalty included in initial FIA summons

The FIA document itself did not impose a penalty on the British driver. It was solely a summons requiring him and a Ferrari representative to attend the hearing, with the stewards responsible for determining whether the incident constituted an offence and whether any sanction was necessary.

The Sepang investigation followed another impeding case involving Lewis Hamilton at the previous round in Baku. On that occasion, the Briton was investigated for blocking Liam Lawson during free practice and received a reprimand, his second of the season.

Lewis Hamilton was therefore given another opportunity at Sepang to explain the circumstances surrounding the incident. At the stage covered by the FIA summons, no penalty had been announced, with the decision due to follow only after the stewards had considered the evidence and heard the relevant parties.