BREAKING: FIA Announce Lewis Hamilton Investigation at Bahrain Grand Prix After FP2 Incident
Lewis Hamilton has once again found himself under the spotlight after the FIA summoned the Ferrari driver following an incident during Friday practice at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
The seven-time Formula 1 world champion was called to the stewards after allegedly impeding Audi driver Gabriel Bortoleto during the second free practice session at the Sepang International Circuit.
Despite the event officially retaining the Bahrain Grand Prix name, this weekend’s race is being staged in Malaysia after the original event in Sakhir was relocated because of the ongoing situation in the Middle East. The FIA’s official documents confirm the summons involving Hamilton and Car 44.
Hamilton summoned after Bortoleto incident
The incident occurred at Turn 9 during FP2, when Bortoleto encountered Hamilton’s Ferrari while approaching the corner.
According to reports, the Audi driver was on a flying lap when Hamilton was travelling more slowly on the circuit. The incident was initially noted by race officials before being escalated into a formal investigation.
Hamilton and a Ferrari representative were subsequently required to appear before the stewards to explain what happened.
The FIA’s official documentation lists a summons concerning Car 44 for alleged impeding of Car 5, confirming that the matter was formally placed before the stewards.
The incident is particularly notable because Hamilton has been involved in several impeding-related investigations and penalties during the 2026 season.
Another FIA headache for Hamilton
The latest investigation adds to a growing list of incidents that have put Hamilton under scrutiny this season.
At the Hungarian Grand Prix, Hamilton was summoned after an incident involving McLaren’s Oscar Piastri during qualifying and subsequently received a three-place grid penalty for impeding. He was also investigated at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after an incident involving Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson during practice, although that situation resulted in a reprimand rather than a grid penalty.
That history made Friday’s Bahrain investigation another important moment for the Ferrari driver.
However, the circumstances surrounding the latest incident also need to be viewed within the context of the unusual 2026 regulations. Hamilton has previously argued that the new power-unit rules can make it difficult for drivers to manage their energy deployment and positioning on out-laps, increasing the possibility of cars encountering each other at awkward points on the circuit.
Hamilton finishes fifth in FP2
The investigation came after Hamilton completed FP2 in fifth position.
Charles Leclerc led the session for Ferrari with a 1:37.528, narrowly ahead of Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar, while Lando Norris was third and Max Verstappen fourth.
Hamilton finished just behind Verstappen, giving Ferrari an encouraging pace indication despite the controversy surrounding the incident. Reuters also reported that the session was affected by dusty and slippery conditions, with tyre degradation expected to become an important factor during the weekend.
That means Hamilton’s focus will not simply be on the stewards. Ferrari will also be looking to extract more performance from the car as track conditions improve.
FIA verdict brings further twist
The investigation did not ultimately result in a major sporting penalty for Hamilton.
Following the hearing, the stewards issued Hamilton a warning over the impeding incident, while Ferrari was fined €10,000 for its role in the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The outcome means Hamilton avoids a grid penalty from this particular investigation, allowing him to continue his Bahrain Grand Prix weekend without losing starting positions as a direct consequence of the Bortoleto incident.
Nevertheless, the latest FIA intervention provides another reminder of how closely the Ferrari star is being watched whenever traffic incidents occur on track.
Ferrari now faces crucial weekend
With the investigation resolved, Hamilton can turn his attention back to qualifying and the race.
Ferrari has shown competitive pace through Friday, with Leclerc topping FP2 and Hamilton finishing fifth. But the team will need to balance outright performance with careful traffic management as the weekend progresses.
For Hamilton, avoiding further incidents will be equally important.
The seven-time champion remains one of the biggest names on the F1 grid, and every FIA investigation involving the Ferrari driver is likely to attract significant attention.
For now, the immediate danger has passed: Hamilton has been warned rather than penalised with a grid drop, while Ferrari has absorbed the €10,000 fine.
But with qualifying and the Bahrain Grand Prix still ahead, the pressure remains firmly on Ferrari and Hamilton to deliver a clean weekend.
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