Hamilton and Leclerc avoid Belgian GP grid penalty as Ferrari fined for tyre breach

Ferrari has been fined €10,000 after breaching Formula 1's sporting regulations regarding tyre returns during Friday practice at the Belgian Grand Prix, though Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have both escaped grid penalties for the infringement.

Why it matters:

At a venue like Spa-Francorchamps, where track position and race strategy are deeply intertwined, a grid penalty would have severely undermined either driver's weekend before Saturday even began. The stewards' decision to limit the punishment to a financial sanction keeps both Ferrari drivers in the mix for strong qualifying positions and preserves their strategic flexibility for Sunday's race.

The details:

• The infringement related to Article 6.4.2 of the sporting regulations, which strictly governs how teams must handle and return tyres to supplier Pirelli following practice sessions.
• Ferrari reportedly failed to return one set of tyres within the required timeframe after FP1, leading the FIA to refer the case to the stewards once second practice had concluded.
• The stewards ultimately determined that a €10,000 fine — allocated as €5,000 per driver — was proportionate and sufficient, ruling out any sporting penalties that might have affected the starting grid.
• Friday Pace: Despite the regulatory headache, Hamilton finished FP2 in a competitive fourth place, while Leclerc ended the session in 11th as the team worked through its programme at Spa.

What's next:

With no grid penalties applied, Ferrari can focus entirely on maximizing qualifying performance on Saturday. Both drivers will aim to convert Friday's running into strong starting positions, knowing a clean weekend is essential if the Scuderia is to capitalize on its pace and challenge for significant points at one of the calendar's most demanding circuits.