"British bias strikes": Fans react to Lewis Hamilton getting away with just a reprimand for yellow flag infringement

Seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton was under investigation by the FIA stewards for a yellow flag infringement after the sprint qualifying at the 2025 Brazilian GP. The FIA has come out with the decision and has decided to penalize Hamilton with just a reprimand. Fans took to the social media platform X and reacted to Hamilton getting away with just a reprimand.

During the final lap in SQ2, Charles Leclerc was just a few seconds ahead of his teammate Lewis Hamilton when the Monegasque lost the car and spun around. As Hamilton came by, Leclerc was still the wrong way around, but the Briton didn't slow down and continued on his way to the final turn.

The FIA noted Lewis Hamilton for the yellow flag infringement, and the Briton was called to the stewards' office after the session. The stewards have not come out with their decision and have decided to let the seven-time F1 champion go with just a reprimand.

The FIA document explained how the yellow flag flashed on the board just milliseconds before Hamilton turned into the corner, and that the Briton was focused on the corner entry, hence could not see the electronic board. The Ferrari driver was only handed a reprimand by the stewards as he escaped the grid drop.

Fans took to X and questioned how Lewis Hamilton escaped the penalty despite failing to reduce speed under yellow flags and having a car facing the wrong way in the middle of the track.

“British bias strikes,” commented a user as he questioned FIA’s decision Another user commented, “Didn't slow down but still doesn't get a penalty 😂😂 wonder how much he's paid them this time” “Verstappen fails to slow: Grid drop, Hamilton fails to slow: reprimand”, mentioned another

Some fans pointed fingers at the stewards while others were confused by the statement released in the FIA document.

“Thats great but I am incredibly confused by their decision making,” commented a user Another wrote, “Outrageous. The double yellow flag means 'slow down and be prepared to stop'. He did neither, and gets away with it. Joke of a sport to let cheats go unpunished” “This is dangerous now. We have the stewards taking the view that the driver didn’t see the yellow but because they saw a green should have known they were in a yellow. This is changing 75 years of how rules have been applied, it’s insane,” mentioned another fan on X

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The FIA document explained why Lewis Hamilton was not penalised for the yellow flag infringement

The FIA document about the decision against Lewis Hamilton's yellow flag infringement detailed how the Briton detailed to the Stewards that he couldn't see the yellow flags, and that the same was confirmed by the onboard video. The light panel activated just a fraction of a second before Hamilton approached it.

Detailing the moment when Lewis Hamilton went by Charles Leclerc without slowing, the document read,

“However, HAM acknowledged during the hearing that he saw Car 16 (LEC) stationary at the side of the track and could see a green light signal being displayed beyond that point. He therefore had to realise that he was at least in a yellow sector and as a consequence had to reduce speed discernibly.” “Looking into the telemetry, the Stewards found that the driver reacted by hesitating whilst applying the throttle, but did not reduce speed as required,” it added

The document further suggested that a similar scenario deemed a reprimand was the appropriate penalty rather than a 5-place grid drop.

Edited by Pranay Bhagi