Formula 1 Hungarian GP
Lewis Hamilton slapped with grid drop for impeding Oscar Piastri in F1 Hungarian GP qualifying
Lewis Hamilton has lost his second place on the Formula 1 Hungarian GP grid after impeding Oscar Piastri in qualifying
Filip Cleeren
Edited: Jul 26, 2026, 3:01 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton has been handed a three-place grid drop for impeding McLaren driver Oscar Piastri in Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying.
Towards the end of the final Q3 shootout, Hamilton was driving slowly on the main straight while Piastri was approaching behind him on a flying lap.
Unaware the Australian was approaching, Hamilton stuck to the racing line, forcing Piastri to take avoiding action and abort his final flying lap. Piastri sarcastically gave Hamilton a thumbs-up from the cockpit, while a confused Hamilton asked his race engineer why he hadn't been told the McLaren was approaching.
The FIA stewards handed the seven-time world champion a standard three-place grid drop, meaning Hamilton will drop from second to fifth on Sunday's starting grid. As a result, Charles Leclerc, Kimi Antonelli and Piastri will all move up a position on the grid.
"At the approach to Turn 1, Car 44 was travelling at a significantly reduced speed on the racing line while Car 81 was approaching on a push lap," the stewards wrote in their verdict.
"The driver of Car 44 explained that he had just completed a fast lap and did not receive the team's radio message regarding the approaching Car 81 until the latter was already in close proximity. He further stated that, due to the positioning of his car on the track, Car 81 was not visible in his mirrors.
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Photo by: Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images
"Car 81, which was on a push lap, was forced to take avoiding action by running wide and being obliged to abort the lap.
"Having examined the available evidence, the Stewards determined that Car 44 unnecessarily impeded Car 81 during qualifying."
Antonelli is still awaiting his own verdict on allegedly infringing a yellow flag at the end of his final qualifying lap as he passed the stationary Red Bull of Max Verstappen.
"It was pretty bad," Piastri said. "I saw him from the start line, expecting him to get out of the way and I watched him basically all the way up until I nearly hit him. So, yeah, a shame."
Read Also:
Formula 1Max Verstappen sees mysterious issues at Red Bull: "Desperate? I'm already past that stage"
Formula 1George Russell to undergo Mercedes engine change, but avoids F1 Hungarian GP grid drop
Photos from Hungarian GP - Saturday
Hungarian Grand Prix - Saturday
Hungarian Grand Prix - Saturday
Hungarian Grand Prix - Saturday
Hungarian Grand Prix - Saturday
Hungarian Grand Prix - Saturday
Hungarian Grand Prix - Saturday
Hungarian Grand Prix - Saturday
Hungarian Grand Prix - Saturday
Hungarian Grand Prix - Saturday
Hungarian Grand Prix - Saturday
Hungarian Grand Prix - Saturday
Hungarian Grand Prix - Saturday
Hungarian Grand Prix - Saturday
Hungarian Grand Prix - Saturday
Hungarian Grand Prix - Saturday
Hungarian Grand Prix - Saturday
Hungarian Grand Prix - Saturday
Hungarian Grand Prix - Saturday
Hungarian Grand Prix - Saturday
Hungarian Grand Prix - Saturday
Hungarian Grand Prix - Saturday
Hungarian Grand Prix - Saturday
Hungarian Grand Prix - Saturday
Hungarian Grand Prix - Saturday
Hungarian Grand Prix - Saturday
Hungarian Grand Prix - Saturday
Hungarian Grand Prix - Saturday
Hungarian Grand Prix - Saturday
Hungarian Grand Prix - Saturday
Hungarian Grand Prix - Saturday
Hungarian Grand Prix - Saturday
Hungarian Grand Prix - Saturday
Hungarian Grand Prix - Saturday
Hungarian Grand Prix - Saturday
Hungarian Grand Prix - Saturday
Hungarian Grand Prix - Saturday
Hungarian Grand Prix - Saturday
Formula 1
37
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Max Verstappen sees mysterious issues at Red Bull: "Desperate? I'm already past that stage"
Next article George Russell to undergo Mercedes engine change, but avoids F1 Hungarian GP grid drop
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Filip Cleeren
How the Racing Bulls pendulum is swinging back towards undeniable Liam Lawson
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
2 h
How the Racing Bulls pendulum is swinging back towards undeniable Liam Lawson
Winners and losers from F1's chaotic Brazilian Grand Prix
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
15 h
Winners and losers from F1's chaotic Brazilian Grand Prix
More from
Lewis Hamilton
‘I’ll try to win, somehow’ – Can Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen fight back for F1 Brazilian GP victory?
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
‘I’ll try to win, somehow’ – Can Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen fight back for F1 Brazilian GP victory?
F1 Brazilian GP: Sunday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
F1 Brazilian GP: Sunday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
More from
Ferrari
Robert Kubica announces exit from AF Corse’s privateer Hypercar in WEC
WEC
WEC
Monza
16 h
Robert Kubica announces exit from AF Corse’s privateer Hypercar in WEC
Charles Leclerc penalised for Liam Lawson clash; Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman also punished after F1 Brazilian GP
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
16 h
Charles Leclerc penalised for Liam Lawson clash; Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman also punished after F1 Brazilian GP
Latest news
George Russell has lost 90 points to Max Verstappen in F1 2026 runner-up battle
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
39 min
George Russell has lost 90 points to Max Verstappen in F1 2026 runner-up battle
Aprilia: “Marco Bezzecchi couldn’t avoid the collision; Marc Marquez moved in on him"
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
1 h
Aprilia: “Marco Bezzecchi couldn’t avoid the collision; Marc Marquez moved in on him"
How the Racing Bulls pendulum is swinging back towards undeniable Liam Lawson
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
2 h
How the Racing Bulls pendulum is swinging back towards undeniable Liam Lawson
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe