Hamilton warned as Mercedes fined for impeding Sargeant

Incident overview

During second practice in Jeddah, Logan Sargeant encountered a near-miss with Lewis Hamilton through Turn 10.

While on a hot lap, Sargeant had to take evasive action by going off-track to avoid colliding with the slow-moving Mercedes driver, labeling the situation as "dangerous" over team radio.

Stewards' verdict

Both Hamilton and Sargeant were summoned to the stewards after the session.

The FIA handed Hamilton a warning and issued Mercedes a €15,000 fine for what they deemed a "serious failure" to inform their driver of approaching traffic.

The incident

• Hamilton impeded Sargeant at Turn 11, forcing the Williams driver off track to avoid a crash.
• Stewards noted a "serious, high-speed crash" would have occurred without Sargeant's evasive action.
• Mercedes failed to warn Hamilton about Sargeant's fast lap, constituting a "serious failure" by the team.

Stewards' verdict:

"That was a serious failure on the part of the team, particularly given the speeds on this circuit and the nature of turn 11, which is at the end of a series of high-speed corners where driver visibility is impaired.

We therefore issue a warning to the driver and impose a fine of €15,000 to the team."

The incident shows the importance of effective team communication and highlights safety concerns on the high-speed Jeddah circuit.

Mercedes faces scrutiny over their procedures, while Hamilton continues to struggle with the car's rear stability, finishing a disappointing eighth in the session.