Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton hit with rare FIA warning at Japanese GP
Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton has been issued a rare black-and-white warning flag by the FIA for driving too slowly during a difficult qualifying session at the Japanese Grand Prix.
The 41-year-old was penalised as he exited the pit lane at Suzuka in pursuit of undisturbed airflow.
This technical infraction acts as a final warning, meaning any further breaches could result in a grid drop or a 10-second time penalty.
It compounded a frustrating afternoon for the seven-time world champion, who could only manage the sixth fastest time on the grid.
Struggles for straight-line speed
The British driver is currently chasing Michael Schumacher’s all-time record of six victories in Japan.
However, matching that historic milestone on Sunday will be an uphill battle against a dominant Silver Arrows team.
“I was feeling pretty decent, it’s just we’re not very quick compared to the Mercedes and a little bit the McLaren.”
“My first lap I was up and then I lost two and a half tenths just on the straights.”
The former Mercedes star also noted a sudden snap in his car that altered his energy deployment and ruined his final flying lap.
Mercedes dominate the front row
Current championship leaders Mercedes have enjoyed a flawless start to the campaign with victories in Australia and China.
Their momentum continued at Suzuka, with Kimi Antonelli securing pole position ahead of teammate George Russell.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri will start from third, sharing the second row with Charles Leclerc in the sister Ferrari.
Lando Norris claimed fifth, leaving the most successful driver in Formula 1 history to start from the third row.
Despite the engine deficit, the veteran racer remains optimistic about rescuing a strong result on race day.
“I don’t know whether we can turn it into a podium, but our race pace has been pretty decent.”
He acknowledged that McLaren have taken a noticeable step forward, aided by a powertrain that is currently outperforming the rest of the grid.
