FIA Issues Warning to Bortoleto After US GP Practice Incident with Hamilton
Gabriel Bortoleto received a warning from the FIA for obstructing Lewis Hamilton during practice at the United States Grand Prix. Meanwhile, Nico Hulkenberg's practice start incident was deemed non-penalizable.
Gabriel Bortoleto, driving for Audi, has been given a warning by FIA stewards for impeding Lewis Hamilton at the United States Grand Prix. The incident occurred during the final hour of practice when Hamilton's Ferrari had to abandon a flying lap at Turn 12 due to a slow-moving Audi.
Hamilton expressed his frustration over the team radio, leading to a post-session investigation. The stewards reviewed video footage, team radio, and in-car video evidence before reaching their decision.
According to the stewards, "Car 44 (Hamilton) was on a push lap approaching Turn 12, while Car 5 (Bortoleto) was on an in-lap at a lower speed, compromising Car 44’s braking." Bortoleto admitted he had been warned of Hamilton’s approach but was preoccupied with managing his own car and missed the alert. He only saw Hamilton at the last moment, leading to a late maneuver into the run-off area.
Bortoleto acknowledged the mistake, and Hamilton's team confirmed the incident was not hazardous. Consequently, the stewards issued a warning, consistent with similar practice session incidents.
In a separate Audi-related inquiry, Nico Hulkenberg was investigated following a practice start that required Aston Martin's Lance Stroll to brake. The stewards decided no further action was necessary. The review noted that Hulkenberg's rear vision was obscured, preventing him from noticing Stroll's approach. The stewards concluded that the situation was manageable and not dangerous, leading to a decision of no further action.
Elsewhere, the United States Grand Prix saw continued attention on Ferrari's performance, with Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Antonelli being key figures in the weekend's narrative.