Lewis Hamilton warned by FIA after medical centre visit refusal at Spa
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, moves his hand towards the railing. Hungary, July 2022.
Lewis Hamilton has been given a warning after refusing to visit the medical centre following a first-lap crash at the Belgian GP.
Hamilton lined up P4 for the Belgian Grand Prix with his former McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso for company on the second row of the grid.
Both drivers were boosted forward by three grid slots due to Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc and Esteban Ocon ahead all dropping back due to power unit-related grid penalties.
Hamilton and Alonso would go to battle on the opening lap of the race, but at Les Combes, it all went wrong.
Hamilton would attempt to go around the outside of Alonso, but would turn in and hit the Alpine, briefly going airborne as a result of the contact.
Alonso branded Hamilton an “idiot”, with Hamilton later admitting that he was at fault.
Initially Hamilton attempted to carry on, but Mercedes would soon tell him to park the W13 and retire, with a long walk back to the pits following.
Alonso was not the only one unhappy with Hamilton, the FIA also disgruntled after the Brit refused to visit the medical centre as he had been required to do.
A warning then came for the seven-time champ.
“The stewards received a report from the race director that driver Hamilton refused to visit the Event Medical Service following his crash on Lap 1, where the Medical Warning Light threshold was exceeded, and only did so after the race director informed the team that further action could be taken if he did not,” the stewards report reads.
“This is not the first time this season that drivers (not Hamilton) have initially refused to go for a medical check. The stewards issue a warning in this case, with a reminder to
all drivers that stronger action may be taken in the future.”
Alonso went on to score points with a P5 finish, while it was not a case of disaster for Mercedes at Spa-Francorchamps, since George Russell crossed the line P4 at the end of an encouraging display.
Russell passed the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc, stretching clear as he went on to finish just over two seconds behind Carlos Sainz in the other Ferrari.
