Qatar Grand Prix

FIA issue EMBARRASSING Hamilton penalty after Qatar Grand Prix shambles

Kerry Violet Sunday 1 December 2024 17:35 Updated: 18:16

FIA issue EMBARRASSING Hamilton penalty after Qatar Grand Prix shambles

The FIA have declared a decision on a penalty for Lewis Hamilton at the Qatar Grand Prix.

The sport's governing body initially investigated the Mercedes driver for a false race start before awarding him with a five-second penalty for the rookie error.

F1 HEADLINES: Verstappen penalty verdict announced as Red Bull star ruled OUT of race

The 39-year-old has just two races remaining with the Silver Arrows before his move to Ferrari for 2025, but his penultimate race with the team didn't get off to the best start.

Before the Qatar Grand Prix even got underway, Hamilton's Mercedes jolted forwards out of the pit box, the British star immediately apologising to his team over the radio, sheepishly declaring: "Sorry about that guys."

George Russell started the Qatar GP from pole while team-mate Lewis Hamilton began the race P6

After Mercedes' successful stint in Vegas last time out landing the team with a 1-2, Toto Wolff would perhaps have had high hopes for his driver duo to secure maximum results in their last remaining races together.

These hopes were bolstered after Russell's P2 qualifying finish in Qatar became a pole position ahead of Sunday's race, after the FIA handed four-time champion Max Verstappen a bizarre one-grid penalty, promoting Russell to the front row.

After losing the lead on lap one, Mercedes' race went downhill from there, Hamilton's embarrassing slip not exactly what he or the team would have been hoping for to end their final season together on a high either.

Lewis Hamilton Mercedes Ferrari FIA Qatar Grand Prix silver arrows

Latest News

F1 Social

Aston Martin issue 2025 statement amid Newey arrival

32 minutes ago

Red Bull

Red Bull F1 exit revealed in £119 MILLION blow

1 hour ago

F1 Today

F1 News Today: Red Bull team announce driver change as Horner suffers MAJOR setback

3 hours ago

GPFans Exclusive

EXCLUSIVE: Hamilton tipped for TOUGH Ferrari arrival after Mercedes frustrations

Today 13:56

Lewis Hamilton

Hamilton rival blasts champion for 'inappropriate' F1 decision

Today 12:58

F1 Social

Red Bull team declare team-mate change following fan demand

Today 11:55

More news

F1 News 24/7

Races

About GPFans

GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.

We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.

With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.

Follow us on your favorite social media channel

Corporate & Media

Innovatieweg 20C
7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860

CHOOSE YOUR COUNTRY

FIA issue EMBARRASSING Hamilton penalty after Qatar Grand Prix shambles

FIA issue EMBARRASSING Hamilton penalty after Qatar Grand Prix shambles