F1 Dutch Grand Prix: FIA announce Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen penalty verdicts

Photo: © IMAGO

Dutch Grand Prix

FIA announce Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen penalty verdicts at Dutch Grand Prix

Five drivers breached the rules

Simmey Hannifin Donaldson F1 Editor

Motorsport journalist covering F1 since 2024

Saturday 22 August 2026 14:57

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The FIA has confirmed that Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen and three other F1 stars will not be penalized despite breaching the International Sporting Code at the Dutch Grand Prix.

Saturday afternoon saw F1 sprint action take place in Zandvoort, with Hamilton and Verstappen coming home in seventh and sixth, respectively.

However, ahead of lights out, the FIA has confirmed that Hamilton, Verstappen Yuki Tsunoda, Lance Stroll and Valtteri Bottas breached 'Article 12.2.1.i of the International Sporting Code – Non-compliance with Race Director’s Event Note'.

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The FIA confirmed that all of the drivers had stopped their cars before safety line one when driving to the grid ahead of the sprint, which went against the race director's competition notes.

Item 24 of the race director's notes stated: "Article B5.2.4 of the FIA F1 regulations states that 'Any F1 Car which does not complete a reconnaissance lap and reach the grid under its own power will not be permitted to start the TTCS from the grid'.

"In the context of this article the grid shall be considered to be the section of track starting from the front of marked grid box #1 and finishing at the Safety Car Line 1."

SPRINT RESULTS: Full times and finishing positions from Zandvoort

Hamilton, Verstappen and others escape punishment at Dutch Grand Prix

Despite the drivers breaching the rules, though, the FIA has confirmed that the race stewards have decided that Hamilton, Verstappen and company will not receive a penalty for their infringement.

"Car 44 [Hamilton] stopped before reaching Safety Car Line 1 and therefore did not reach the grid (as defined in item 24 of the Race Director’s Competition Notes) under its own power," the stewards wrote regarding Hamilton.

"However, as the end of the grid was extremely crowded when the car reached the grid, the Stewards determine that the driver acted appropriately and stopped the car in a safe spot as close as possible to the grid. Therefore no penalty is applied."

Identical verdicts were delivered for all five drivers, including Verstappen, with the stewards having made the decisions after reviewing in-car video evidence.

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