During the second practice session of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton was penalised for impeding fellow driver Liam Lawson in FP2. Per Autosport and Motorsport.com, the stewards issued Hamilton a formal warning after he failed to maintain a safe distance while overtaking Lawson on the tight, high‑speed section of the Baku street circuit. The incident, which occurred on Thursday’s second practice, prompted the FIA to issue a cautionary note to the Mercedes team, reminding all drivers of the importance of maintaining a minimum safe distance during practice sessions.
While the penalty was limited to a formal reprimand, the incident has reignited debate over the adequacy of current safety protocols during practice sessions. In recent years, F1 has tightened its rules on overtaking during practice to prevent collisions and protect drivers, yet the Baku event highlighted that enforcement can still be inconsistent. The FIA’s decision to issue only a warning rather than a time penalty or grid penalty was defended by the stewards as being proportionate to the nature of the infringement, which did not result in a crash or significant damage to the cars involved.
From a technical standpoint, the Baku circuit’s narrow streets and high‑speed corners make it a particularly hazardous environment for practice sessions. Drivers are often pushing the limits to fine‑tune their setups, and the margin for error is slim. The stewards’ approach to this incident reflects a broader trend in F1: balancing the need for competitive practice with the imperative of driver safety. Nonetheless, many teams and fans are calling for stricter enforcement and clearer guidelines to ensure that such infractions are dealt with more decisively in the future.
For Indian fans, the Azerbaijan GP will be broadcast live on FanCode from 6:00 PM IST, with commentary in Hindi and English. While the incident may not have altered the race’s outcome, it serves as a reminder that safety remains a top priority for the FIA and the teams alike. As the season progresses, stakeholders will likely revisit the rules governing practice sessions to prevent similar incidents from slipping through the cracks.
Source: Autosport
