Lewis Hamilton received a five-second penalty after exceeding the pit-lane speed limit by just 0.1 km/h during the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix, while Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc was cleared following a separate yellow-flag investigation. The FIA has explained the evidence and reasoning behind both decisions involving the Scuderia’s drivers.
The two investigations added further stewarding drama to a weekend in which the Hungarian Grand Prix starting grid had already been affected by penalties.
Lewis Hamilton penalised for exceeding the limit by 0.1 km/h
The FIA investigated Lewis Hamilton for speeding in the pit lane and imposed a five-second time penalty. The margin over the permitted speed was exceptionally small, with car number 44 recorded at only 0.1 km/h above the limit.
“Car 44 exceeded the pit-lane speed limit, which was set at 80 km/h for this event, by 0.1 km/h. The decision is a five-second time penalty, for a breach of Article B1.6.3a.iii of the FIA Formula 1 Regulations.”
It represented another costly sanction for Lewis Hamilton following the stewards’ verdict over his Hungarian GP qualifying incident.
Charles Leclerc cleared in Hungarian GP yellow-flag investigation
Charles Leclerc was investigated over a possible failure to slow sufficiently under yellow flags but escaped punishment after the stewards reviewed the available evidence.
“The stewards reviewed positioning and marshalling system data, video footage, telemetry and onboard camera footage. As car 16, driven by Charles Leclerc, approached Turn 2, a single yellow flag was displayed because car 87, driven by Oliver Bearman, had spun beyond the apex of Turn 2. The yellow-flag sector was only 90 metres long.
“Car 16 had already begun braking for Turn 2 by the time the driver was first able to see the yellow flag. Car 16 slowed through Turn 2 and did not gain on any car ahead while passing car 87.
“Considering the extremely short notice with which the driver saw the yellow flag, the stewards are satisfied that the driver sufficiently complied with what is expected of a driver in those circumstances. No penalty.”
