Hamilton investigated by FIA after Bahrain FP2 impeding incident
NXTbets Pro | Published On: October 2, 2026
Hamilton investigation opens
The FIA opened an investigation into Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton after an incident in second practice at the Bahrain Grand Prix. The case centered on a moment at Turn 9, where Hamilton was on a cooldown lap and Gabriel Bortoleto came up quickly from behind in his Audi. Hamilton’s Ferrari moved right on the racing line and Bortoleto took avoiding action, then passed Hamilton on the inside. Bortoleto complained over team radio. Hamilton later said he could not see clearly in his right mirror. Race control said the stewards would review the incident after FP2, keeping the matter open.
Turn 9 incident
The Turn 9 sequence illustrated the traffic-management problem that can develop during practice, when drivers push for pace runs while others peel off for cooldown laps. Hamilton was not on a flying lap, but his Ferrari became part of the line through the corner. The incident remained under review after second practice. Hamilton and Bortoleto were due to report to the stewards at 5:30 p.m. local time, along with a Ferrari representative.
Stewards review looms
The investigation also added another layer to Hamilton’s Bahrain weekend because he finished fifth in the session behind Charles Leclerc. That placed the focus on a driver who still showed pace but now faced a possible review. Hamilton’s explanation about the right mirror pointed to a visibility issue from the cockpit, yet the FIA still chose to examine the move at Turn 9 after the session. That placed Hamilton under review again after he was reprimanded in Azerbaijan for impeding Liam Lawson. The matter remained open pending the stewards’ review.
