Formula 1 Saudi Arabian GP
Lewis Hamilton gets no penalty for FP2 block on Alexander Albon
The Ferrari driver made his case to the stewards after Albon initially said it was a “dangerous” situation during Friday running
Mark Mann-Bryans
Edited: Apr 19, 2025, 8:26 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Lewis Hamilton has avoided any punishment, having been called to the stewards after impeding Alexander Albon during the second free practice session at the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Albon initially labelled the positioning of Hamilton’s Ferrari “dangerous” as the Williams driver approached at Turn 12 and the stewards duly summoned the seven-time world champion after the session.
However, after speaking to both drivers and studying the relevant data, it was decided by the four stewards that no further action was required against Hamilton.
“The Stewards heard from the driver of Car 44 (Lewis Hamilton), the driver of Car 23 (Alexander Albon), team representatives and reviewed positioning/marshalling system data, video, timing, telemetry, team radio and in-car video evidence and determined that Car 44 unnecessarily impeded Car 23 during Practice 2 at Turn 17,” the steward’s document read.
“However, as agreed with the teams, unless the impeding during free practice was such that it could be regarded as dangerous, there will be no penalty for such impeding. During the hearing, the driver of Car 23 felt that he had the car under control at all times and while he was impeded, he did not consider the situation to be dangerous.
Alex Albon, Williams
Photo by: Lars Baron - Motorsport Images
“He had seen Car 44 in front of him during the corner before. However, he did not expect Car 44 to be in the position on track that he was in and that shocked the driver of Car 23 as he approached Turn 17 and had to take evasive action.
“While his immediate reaction when the incident occurred was to say that it was dangerous, having looked at it subsequently, he agreed that it was not. We accordingly took no further action.”
Hamilton set the 13th fastest time in the session, while Albon was up in 10th for Williams with team-mate Carlos Sainz in fifth on a strong opening to the race weekend for the Grove squad.
Speaking about the Albon blocking incident after FP2, Williams team principal James Vowles told Sky Sports F1: “There’s certain portions of the track, it’s mainly between Turn 5 all the way to Turn 8, where you’re blind, you’re fully loaded on the car, and there’s not a lot you can do anymore.
“You can lift off, that’s about as much you can do, you certainly can’t brake. And that’s really what caused it. It’s not intentional from Ferrari, but let’s try and be stronger on it because we don’t want an accident.”
Photos from Saudi Arabian GP - Practice
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
Formula 1
71
Read Also:
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 Yuki Tsunoda takes blame for Jeddah FP2 F1 crash
Next article Despite Yuki Tsunoda's Saudi smash, Christian Horner hails his progress
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Mark Mann-Bryans
F1 driver market – Who is tied down for 2026?
Formula 1
Formula 1
F1 driver market – Who is tied down for 2026?
What’s next for sacked Red Bull boss Christian Horner?
Formula 1
Formula 1
What’s next for sacked Red Bull boss Christian Horner?
How Mercedes will help Kimi Antonelli recover from a run of tough F1 results
Formula 1
Formula 1
British GP
How Mercedes will help Kimi Antonelli recover from a run of tough F1 results
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
18 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
18 h
Charles Leclerc penalised for Liam Lawson clash; Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman also punished after F1 Brazilian GP
Latest news
How Aston Martin’s fuel gamble in Monza WEC fell short by just three seconds
WEC
WEC WEC
Monza
20 min
How Aston Martin’s fuel gamble in Monza WEC fell short by just three seconds
Brad Keselowski expects "lots of soul searching" in off-season as he reflects on 2026
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
30 min
Brad Keselowski expects "lots of soul searching" in off-season as he reflects on 2026
What's behind Oscar Piastri's split with Mark Webber – and what it means for his F1 career
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
45 min
What's behind Oscar Piastri's split with Mark Webber – and what it means for his F1 career
Shane van Gisbergen gets new crew chief for 2027 NASCAR Cup season
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
52 min
Shane van Gisbergen gets new crew chief for 2027 NASCAR Cup season
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