Colapinto cleared after near-miss with Hamilton in Australian GP practice

Alpine rookie Franco Colapinto will face no penalty after a dramatic near-miss with Lewis Hamilton during second practice at the Australian Grand Prix, with stewards ruling his slow driving was due to a mechanical failure and following team instructions. The Williams driver was investigated for driving unnecessarily slowly on the racing line but was exonerated after explaining his car suffered a 'false neutral' and he was adhering to the designated safe exit procedure.

Why it matters:

This decision highlights the critical balance between enforcing rules for on-track safety and understanding mitigating circumstances during sessions. It underscores the potential dangers when a car suddenly loses power on a high-speed straight and the importance of drivers following pre-defined emergency procedures, even if they momentarily conflict with the ideal racing line.

The details:

• The incident occurred early in FP2 when Colapinto's Alpine experienced a 'false neutral' exiting the final corner, causing a dramatic loss of drive on the main straight.
• Colapinto kept the car rolling slowly on the left side (the racing line) as instructed by his team while they attempted to diagnose the issue over the radio.
• The team's instruction was based on the Race Director’s Competition Notes, which designate a specific exit point on the left side of the main straight for emergencies.
• Lewis Hamilton, approaching at high speed with a clear line of sight, was reportedly "surprised" by the slow-moving car on the line and had to take swift evasive action to avoid a collision.
• Colapinto stated he was watching his mirrors and aware of Hamilton's approach but believed moving off the line without drive could have created a more dangerous situation.

What's next:

The stewards' verdict closes the matter, allowing Colapinto to focus on the remainder of the Australian GP weekend. The ruling serves as a reminder to all teams and drivers about the published emergency procedures and the need for heightened awareness when a car is in trouble, especially on high-speed sections where closing speeds are extreme.