Lewis Hamilton F1 qualifying incident under investigation at Japanese Grand Prix

Japanese Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton qualifying incident under investigation at Japanese Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton was involved in a near miss incident at Suzuka on Saturday

Kerry Violet F1 News Editor

F1 editor and journalist covering motorsport since 2024.

Saturday 5 April 2025 09:09 Updated: 12:20

An incident involving seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton and Williams star Carlos Sainz at qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix has been placed under investigation.

Saturday's action at the Suzuka International Circuit hardly went uninterrupted thanks to multiple grass fires caused by skid block sparks from the F1 machinery being swept off the track and onto the bone-dry trackside grass.

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Qualifying for Sunday's main event was briefly delayed after the session was red-flagged due to the issue but once the remaining drivers got back out on track, Hamilton and former Ferrari star Carlos Sainz were involved in a near-miss incident.

The 40-year-old was on a push lap when he sped around one of the circuit's many high-speed corners to find Sainz driving slowly in the middle of the track, causing Hamilton to swerve around him at the last minute.

Hamilton-Sainz incident under FIA investigation

The incident is now under investigation over Sainz seemingly impeding Hamilton, with the stewards expected to hit the Spaniard with a three-place grid penalty if he is found to be in the wrong.

Speaking on Sky F1's coverage, 1997 world champion and former Williams star Jacques Villeneuve said of the incident: "Drivers shouldn't do that, it is dangerous. They can't purely rely on radio."

At the end of the qualifying session, Hamilton came out on top ahead of Sainz's Williams, who finished P12, but the Ferrari star will likely still be bitterly disappointed to line up on the grid for Sunday's race in P8.

F1 HEADLINES: FIA PUNISHMENT issued after Hamilton incident as Verstappen also investigated in Japan

Lewis Hamilton FIA Carlos Sainz Japanese Grand Prix Sky F1 Suzuka International Circuit