Lewis Hamilton avoided a penalty at the Singapore Grand Prix after the FIA investigated a late-race incident involving Lando Norris at Turn 1. The Ferrari driver had gone beyond the track limits while defending his position, but the stewards concluded that the sequence did not give him an unfair advantage because the McLaren driver also left the circuit during the attempted overtake.
The decision prevented another setback at the end of a difficult Marina Bay race for Hamilton. The seven-time world champion had shown competitive pace across the weekend, but his final stint unravelled after Ferrari’s strategy under the Virtual Safety Car left him vulnerable in the closing laps.
Lewis Hamilton investigated after late Singapore GP battle
Hamilton found himself under increasing pressure in the final phase of the race as Lando Norris and Kimi Antonelli closed in. When Norris reached the Ferrari, the British driver attempted to defend his position into Turn 1 but ran beyond the white line.
The incident immediately attracted the attention of the stewards because Hamilton appeared to retain an advantage after leaving the track. Such a scenario could have constituted a breach of Article B1.8.6 of the sporting regulations, placing the number 44 Ferrari at risk of a penalty.
However, the FIA’s review focused not only on Hamilton’s trajectory but also on the circumstances of the attempted overtake. Norris also went beyond the track limits at the same corner while trying to make the move, which proved decisive in the stewards’ assessment.
Why the FIA decided not to penalise Lewis Hamilton
The stewards determined that the overtaking attempt was not legitimate because the attacking car had also left the circuit at Turn 1. As a result, they concluded that Hamilton and the other car had rejoined in the correct order and that the Ferrari driver had not gained an unfair positional advantage.
No further action was therefore taken, allowing Hamilton to retain his position without a sporting sanction. The ruling spared Ferrari an additional complication after an already frustrating conclusion to the Singapore Grand Prix.
The investigation came after Hamilton’s race had already been compromised by the decision not to pit during the Virtual Safety Car. That choice left him on a different strategy and ultimately contributed to a difficult final stint as the Soft tyres lost performance. Hamilton later accepted responsibility for the Singapore tyre gamble and acknowledged that the decision had not produced the result he wanted.
Singapore strategy leaves Lewis Hamilton exposed late in the race
Before the final phase, the number 44 Ferrari had looked competitive throughout the weekend. The SF-26 appeared well suited to Marina Bay, although Max Verstappen’s Red Bull ultimately possessed the strongest race pace.
Hamilton’s hopes of converting that performance into a podium were damaged during the Virtual Safety Car period. By remaining on track rather than making another stop, he committed himself to a strategy that became increasingly difficult as the tyres deteriorated and the cars behind began closing rapidly.
The reasoning behind that pivotal decision and its effect on Ferrari’s podium prospects is examined in more detail in our analysis of why Lewis Hamilton stayed out during the Singapore VSC.
That deterioration ultimately created the circumstances for the late battle with Norris and the subsequent FIA investigation. Although Hamilton escaped a penalty, the incident underlined just how quickly his race had changed from a potential podium challenge into a defensive fight for position.
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