Formula 1 British GP
Why Lewis Hamilton keeps British GP podium despite yellow-flag sanction
Lewis Hamilton has been slapped on the wrist for a yellow-flag infringement in Formula 1's British Grand Prix, but retains his podium
Filip Cleeren
Edited: Jul 5, 2026, 8:17 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Photo by: Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images
Ferrari Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton will keep his third place in the British Grand Prix after getting off with a reprimand for a yellow-flag infringement.
Hamilton was investigated by the FIA race stewards for allegedly speeding through a yellow-flag zone during the Silverstone race, passing the stranded Audi of Nico Hulkenberg.
Video evidence showed that Hamilton entered the yellow sector in Turn 9 before the yellow flag was displayed and only received a warning on his dashboard at the end of it, while he had also been distracted by the wheel-to-wheel battle with Max Verstappen.
The stewards accepted that the seven-time world champion only had little time to react to the yellows, but as he didn't reduce speed they still handed him a reprimand.
As a result Hamilton retains third place behind his winning team-mate Charles Leclerc and Mercedes' George Russell, with the pair benefitting from a late retirement from championship leader Kimi Antonelli.
Read Also:
After talking to the stewards, Hamilton said he was expecting to lose his podium. "I'm probably going to get a penalty right now as well, so I'll probably lose [it]. I went through a yellow flag and I didn't see it," Hamilton told Sky.
The race ended under the safety car after a late accident for Red Bull driver Max Verstappen at Stowe, which cost Hamilton a position as he pitted for tyres while Russell stayed out. That gained Russell track position, with the safety car staying out until the finish.
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes
Photo by: Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images
The stewards' decision in full
"HAM entered the relevant sector before any yellow flag or yellow light panel was displayed, with no such indication present before Turn 9.
"The first light panel encountered after Turn 9 was displaying green immediately before Turn 10. The yellow indication on the steering wheel display only appeared once the driver was already on the straight towards Turn 10 and close to the end of the yellow flag zone. The evidence showed that there was no yellow light panel warning within the driver’s immediate field of vision and that the yellow indication on the steering wheel display remained visible for only a very short period.
"The Stewards were therefore satisfied that the time available for the driver to react to the yellow flag indication was very limited. The Stewards also accept that, immediately prior to entering the sector, HAM had been involved in an overtaking manoeuvre with VER and that the driver was expecting a counter attack. As a result, his attention remained directed to his mirrors for most of the straight towards Turn 10, rather than immediately towards the green light panel at the end of the sector. The Stewards took this into account when considering whether the visibility of the green light panel should itself have made it clear to the driver that he was still within a yellow flag zone.
"The Stewards nevertheless determine that, after the yellow had been displayed on the steering wheel display and the green light panel was illuminated immediately before Turn 10, HAM did not make a discernible reduction of speed and therefore did not fully comply with the requirements applicable under a single yellow flag.
"In determining the penalty, the Stewards took into account that HAM had entered the sector before the yellow was shown, that the yellow indication reached the driver only when he was already near the end of the sector, that the time and distance available to react were very limited, and that the driver’s attention had, for understandable reasons, been occupied by the immediately preceding battle with another car. In those circumstances, the Stewards considered that a Reprimand was the appropriate penalty."
Photos from British GP - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
British Grand Prix - Sunday
Formula 1
57
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 "fed up" with Red Bull issues as he reveals cause of British GP crash
Next article George Russell says “I need to be better” in F1 title chase
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
Fermin Aldeguer defends himself after Francesco Bagnaia crash: “It wasn’t a crazy move”
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
20 min
Fermin Aldeguer defends himself after Francesco Bagnaia crash: “It wasn’t a crazy move”
George Russell has lost 90 points to Max Verstappen in F1 2026 runner-up battle
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
1 h
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
2 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