Things got heated on the track in Jeddah during the second practice session of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix—especially after a close call between Lewis Hamilton and Williams driver Alex Albon left tempers flaring and radios buzzing.
Hamilton, who made headlines earlier this year by switching from Mercedes to Ferrari in a jaw-dropping £40 million deal, found himself at the center of a stewards’ investigation following a tense moment during FP2.
Alex Albon Forced Into Evasive Action After Hamilton Slows on Track
During an early hot lap, Albon was pushing hard when he suddenly came up behind a slow-moving Hamilton at the wheel of his Ferrari.
The unexpected obstruction left Albon scrambling to avoid a collision.
Visibly frustrated, Albon backed off and didn’t hold back over team radio—calling the move “f***ing dangerous.”
Stewards Launch Investigation But Decide Not to Punish Hamilton
After the near-miss, F1 stewards quickly opened an investigation into the incident.
However, after reviewing the footage and listening to both drivers, they ultimately decided not to hand Hamilton any penalties.
In their official statement, the stewards explained that unless an impeding incident during free practice is deemed truly dangerous, no action would be taken.
Albon, during the hearing, said he felt he had control of his car throughout the incident—even though he was clearly caught off guard.
He admitted that while he initially believed the situation to be dangerous, a second look helped him cool off and agree that no harm was done in the end.
Hamilton Finishes a Disappointing 13th in Practice Session
While the drama off-track took the spotlight, Hamilton’s on-track performance didn’t exactly shine either.
He wrapped up the second practice session in 13th place, trailing over six-tenths of a second behind his Ferrari teammate, Charles Leclerc.
It’s not the kind of result the seven-time world champion would have hoped for in one of the fastest and most demanding circuits on the F1 calendar.
Williams Boss Warns That More Blockages May Happen This Weekend
Williams team principal James Vowles weighed in on the situation after the session, making it clear he didn’t believe Hamilton’s move was deliberate.
Still, he raised concerns that the nature of the Jeddah street circuit could lead to more close calls.
“There are parts of this track—especially between Turn 5 and Turn 8—where visibility is limited,” Vowles told Sky Sports F1.
“Drivers are fully committed, and there’s not much they can do other than lift off.
Braking’s not an option in those corners, and that’s what caused this scare.”
He added a call for teams to be more mindful as the weekend progresses, saying, “It wasn’t intentional from Ferrari, but we need to be sharper about this. We can’t afford an accident.”
What’s Next for Hamilton and Ferrari?
As Hamilton continues to adjust to life at Ferrari, he’ll be looking for a stronger showing in the next sessions and ultimately on race day.
With emotions already running high in the paddock, all eyes will be on how the grid shapes up—and whether more flashpoints are in store.
Hamilton may have avoided a penalty this time, but it’s clear the tension on the track is just heating up.