Lewis Hamilton is under investigation after a FP2 incident at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, following a close call with Liam Lawson near Turn 19 in Baku that raised safety concerns.

Hamilton was on a slow lap when his Ferrari moved across Lawson’s path. The Racing Bulls driver immediately called the move “dangerous” on the radio as cars funneled toward the back straight.

Both drivers continued. Hamilton ended FP2 fifth, while Lawson finished 12th. Stewards will review onboard, external footage, and telemetry to assess potential impeding or unsafe driving.

Drivers on cooldown or out-laps must avoid creating dangerous situations or impeding others. Positioning through the blind, tightening approach to Turn 19 routinely draws scrutiny from race control in Baku.

The circuit’s prolonged flat-out section magnifies closing speeds, making late line changes high risk. Teams plan gaps carefully, yet compressed traffic trains remain common in practice and qualifying.

Contextually, Hamilton’s F1 rule frustration this season has focused on consistency and predictability, factors directly relevant to traffic management on narrow street circuits.

For Ferrari, the incident arrives as Hamilton beds in. He has rejected suggestions of internal demands, stressing his title focus and adaptation priorities with the team.

Team dynamics with Charles Leclerc also matter, with mutual respect underlined in recent coverage of Leclerc earning Hamilton’s respect as Ferrari targets cleaner weekends.

Elsewhere in FP2, George Russell logged a first personal milestone of his season, while rookie Arvid Lindblad crashed and triggered a red flag, reshaping run plans across the field.

Any sanction could influence Ferrari’s preparation and Hamilton’s early momentum, with rivals like Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso pushing hard on a punishing, low-margin street track.

The verdict is expected after detailed checks, with teams adjusting programmes accordingly as the weekend builds. Hamilton’s ongoing F1 learning curve remains a central storyline.

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Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.