FIA punish Hamilton and Ferrari as British star handed 30-place grid penalty - F1 News Today

The FIA has announced its punishment after an investigation into Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari at the Bahrain Grand Prix on Friday.

The ruling came after the seven-time world champion had been accused of impeding Audi's Brazilian star Gabriel Bortoleto during Free Practice 2.

The incident came just a week after Hamilton had a similar moment with New Zealander Liam Lawson at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

➡️ READ MORE: FIA confirms double punishment after Lewis Hamilton investigation at Bahrain Grand Prix

FIA confirms 30-place grid penalty for British star at Bahrain Grand Prix

The FIA was busy on Friday handing out a trio of grid penalties for Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix with young British star Arvid Lindblad worst hit.

The 19-year-old will take a 30-place drop for the showdown in Sepang, while two other drivers have also been given grid penalties.

➡️ READ MORE: FIA confirms 30-place grid penalty for British star at Bahrain Grand Prix

FIA confirm Bahrain Grand Prix DELAYED as rain and lightning strike in Malaysia

The FIA has confirmed that the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia has been officially delayed as rain and lightning strike at Sepang International Circuit.

There has been a risk of these conditions throughout the weekend in Malaysia, but until now, F1 has been very lucky, managing to avoid any delays.

That is no longer the case, and as a result, the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix is now on hold, having been scheduled to get underway at 15:00 local time (08:00 BST).

➡️ READ MORE: FIA confirm Bahrain Grand Prix DELAYED as rain and lightning strike in Malaysia

Max Verstappen delivers brutal putdown to Red Bull team-mate at Bahrain Grand Prix

Max Verstappen has taken a joking jab at his team-mate Isack Hadjar after qualifying for Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.

The Dutchman took his first pole position of the season with a great lap around the Sepang International Circuit, nearly three tenths ahead of second-placed Lewis Hamilton and a further tenth ahead of his own team-mate in third.

➡️ READ MORE: Max Verstappen delivers brutal putdown to Red Bull team-mate at Bahrain Grand Prix

F1 president states final two races will go ahead in Qatar and Abu Dhabi despite ongoing war

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has reaffirmed his commitment to the sport's pre-established calendar, particularly when it comes to the end of the current season.

There have been concerns for months that the season-ending double-header in Qatar and Abu Dhabi will have to be moved or cancelled like the Bahrain and Saudi races earlier in the year due to ongoing unrest in the Middle East, sparked into life by American military strikes earlier in the year.

➡️ READ MORE: F1 president states final two races will go ahead in Qatar and Abu Dhabi despite ongoing war

FIA forced into late grid change at Bahrain Grand Prix after pole position error

The starting grid for the F1 Bahrain Grand Prix had to be changed at the very last moment after an administrative mix-up led to pole position being painted on the wrong side of the track.

During inspections and track walks ahead of race weekend at Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia, vigilant team members and FIA officials noticed that the first grid slot had been positioned on the left side of the straight instead of the traditional right.

➡️ READ MORE: FIA forced into late grid change at Bahrain Grand Prix after pole position error

The bizarre reason F1 star George Russell will race in a 60C ‘oven’ at Bahrain Grand Prix

F1 is a multi-billion dollar sport, so it caused shockwaves on Friday when George Russell announced that he will not be able to wear a cooling vest for Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix.

Conditions in Sepang are expected to be brutal with temperatures inside the cockpit expected to reach 60C.

Russell though will have to suffer without a cooling vest because of cost cap concerns for Mercedes. Yes, it all comes back to money.

➡️ READ MORE: The bizarre reason F1 star George Russell will race in a 60C ‘oven’ at Bahrain Grand Prix

F1 stars face ‘substantial’ Italian tax bills going back EIGHT years

Valtteri Bottas says F1 drivers have been hit with tax demands for racing in Italy dating as far back as seven or eight years.

The Cadillac driver stressed that he has no problem paying tax in countries where he races, but admitted the retrospective nature of the demands had caused significant frustration.

The 37-year-old Finn, who lives in Monaco, explained that F1 drivers already pay tax in a number of countries around the world as a consequence of competing internationally.

➡️ READ MORE: F1 stars face ‘substantial’ Italian tax bills going back EIGHT years

Lewis Hamilton issues bold Fred Vasseur statement as pressure increases on Ferrari boss

Lewis Hamilton has come out strongly in defence of his Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur, amid speculation about the Frenchman's future.

Those unsubtle public overtures from Christian Horner in the team's direction last week turbocharged talk about the already under-pressure Scuderia boss' position, as the team left Baku without a podium for the fifth grand prix in a row.

Ferrari even took the unusual step of organising a short-notice media call on Tuesday to insist that Vasseur's job is safe despite rumours that his job is on the line, with Hamilton now stepping up again on Thursday to underline the team's message

➡️ READ MORE: Lewis Hamilton issues bold Fred Vasseur statement as pressure increases on Ferrari boss

F1 drivers risk harsh penalty at Bahrain Grand Prix as FIA confirm decision

It's the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, but that may not be the weirdest thing about F1 this weekend.

There is just one small change to the track (not even really the track) from the days when Sepang used to be a regular fixture on the F1 calendar.

But it could have massive ramifications for drivers during Sunday's big race.

➡️ READ MORE: F1 drivers risk harsh penalty at Bahrain Grand Prix as FIA confirm decision

Written by

Graham Shaw - Consultant Editor

Digital sports leader with 30 years of senior level experience running global brands. Built sportinglife.com to be a behemoth in the UK as well as being in charge of the Planet Sport network of sites including planetf1.com, football365.com, teamtalk.com and planetrugby.com. Then grew goal.com to be the world's biggest soccer website in 18 languages and 37 territories. Was GM of Portals for Perform Group (now DAZN) with overall responsibility for sportingnews.com, spox.de and voetbalzone.nl.

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