Lewis Hamilton Fears Repeat of Kimi Raikkonen's Pit Stop Disaster

Lewis Hamilton narrowly avoids a serious incident with a Ferrari mechanic during the Belgian Grand Prix, sparking memories of Kimi Raikkonen's 2018 pit stop disaster.

What happened?

During the second virtual safety car period, Lewis Hamilton made his only pit stop under the green flag. All four wheels were changed without issue, but as he pulled away from his pit box, he struck a crew member with his front-right tire. The mechanic, who was attempting to make a late adjustment to the front wing, was knocked to the ground but fortunately escaped uninjured.

Why it matters for Lewis Hamilton

Hamilton immediately stopped and the mechanic was pulled to one side before he continued on his way. The incident sparked memories of Kimi Raikkonen's 2018 pit stop disaster, where the Finn accidentally ran over a mechanic and broke his leg. "My heart sank" when it happened, Hamilton revealed in a post-race interview. "You're looking over here [at the lights] you're not looking over there, so that's more probably on the team, ultimately."

What comes next?

Ferrari was handed a €30,000 fine, €10,000 of which is suspended for a year, after admitting to an "inappropriately late instruction for the wing adjustment, a lack of clear communication and the mechanic's failure to notice the green light." Hamilton, who took full responsibility for the drama-filled weekend, which included a five-second penalty and a heavy crash, finished fourth at Spa-Francorchamps. "I don't count myself unlucky," he said. "I think about the mistake I made yesterday, so I take full responsibility for the fourth place that I ended up getting."

Hamilton's weekend was marked by a heavy crash at the end of final practice, which left him on the back foot heading into qualifying. Despite the setbacks, he praised his team for their strategy and pit stops, saying they were continuing to improve the car. "I think our pace today without the damage, I think we could have been challenging for the win," he said.

The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of clear communication and attention to detail in Formula 1 pit stops. As Hamilton reflected on the incident, he was grateful that the mechanic was uninjured. "I'm really grateful he's OK," he said.

The drama-filled weekend was a far cry from the expected outcome for Hamilton, who had been hoping for a stronger result. Despite the setbacks, he remains optimistic about the team's prospects for the rest of the season.