Piastri Stays Fifth as Hamilton Escapes Second Penalty at Belgian GP

Lewis Hamilton retained fourth place at the Belgian Grand Prix after stewards declined to issue a second penalty for an unsafe pit release that struck a Ferrari mechanic. The decision leaves Oscar Piastri in fifth, with Hamilton’s sole remaining sanction a five-second penalty for a first-lap collision with George Russell.

Why it matters:

The ruling keeps Hamilton second in the drivers’ championship, 45 points behind leader Kimi Antonelli, while raising serious questions about Ferrari’s pit lane protocols. A sporting penalty would have reshuffled the order, but officials cited Hamilton’s immediate stop after contact as the decisive factor in showing leniency.

The details:

• Unsafe release: During his only stop on Lap 20 under the Virtual Safety Car, Hamilton was released while a mechanic was still adjusting his front wing. The Ferrari struck the crew member and knocked him to the ground, though no injuries were reported. Hamilton stopped instantly, which stewards emphasized in their decision.
• Team fine: Ferrari was fined €30,000, with €10,000 suspended for 12 months, and must submit a safety report to the FIA within 14 days.
• Russell clash: Hamilton received a reduced five-second penalty for opening-lap contact with Russell at Les Combes that sent the Mercedes driver into the gravel and out of the race. Both Hamilton and team principal Fred Vasseur argued the incident was a racing accident, not a punishable offense.
• Piastri’s hold: McLaren instructed Piastri to remain within five seconds of Hamilton after the Ferrari driver completed a late pass at Les Combes on Lap 40, anticipating a potential post-race sanction.

What's next:

Ferrari leaves Spa encouraged by Charles Leclerc’s runner-up finish and the team’s continued momentum following recent victories. With Hamilton back in second in the standings, the Scuderia must quickly tighten its pit crew procedures to avoid costlier errors as the season progresses.