Lewis Hamilton faces a nervous wait after appearing to ignore repeated Ferrari instructions following a crash in final practice for the Spanish Grand Prix.
The seven-time world champion lost control of his car midway through Saturday’s FP3 session and went straight on at El Parque.
Hamilton struck the barriers and broke his front wing, immediately placing Ferrari under pressure just hours before qualifying.
The angle of the collision allowed the 41-year-old to reverse away and begin moving again, but the damaged front wing had become trapped underneath his car.
Ferrari race engineer Carlo Santi quickly instructed Hamilton to stop amid concerns over the condition of the vehicle.
“Stop the car,” Santi told the British driver twice over team radio.
Hamilton continued driving as he attempted to return to the Ferrari garage, responding: “The car is going.”
Santi then issued another clear instruction, telling Hamilton to “stop the car in the safest place possible”.
Lewis Hamilton faces a nervous wait after appearing to ignore repeated Ferrari instructions following a crash in final practice for the Spanish Grand Prix
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However, Hamilton remained determined to reach the pits, where Ferrari mechanics could have replaced the broken front wing and potentially sent him back onto the circuit.
“If I can make it back I will, if I can’t I will do it safely,” he replied.
Santi subsequently informed Hamilton that his car had sustained a puncture, something the former Mercedes star acknowledged he was already aware of.
With the Ferrari visibly damaged and deemed unsafe to continue, Hamilton was eventually forced to pull over at the side of the circuit.
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His stricken car brought out a red flag and ended his participation in the final practice session, denying him valuable running before qualifying later on Saturday.
The incident also left Ferrari facing a race against time to inspect the damage and ensure Hamilton’s car would be ready for the battle to determine the Spanish Grand Prix starting order.
Attention may now turn to whether the FIA decides to examine Hamilton’s decision to continue driving after receiving repeated requests from his team to stop.
Formula One’s sporting regulations require drivers to follow instructions when ordered to bring a damaged or potentially unsafe car to a halt.
Lewis Hamilton has won the Spanish Grand Prix six times throughout his career
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Possible sanctions can range from a formal reprimand to a grid penalty, depending on the circumstances and the severity of any breach.
There was no confirmation of an investigation by the FIA stewards at the time of publication.
Hamilton’s determination to return to the pits was understandable given the importance of FP3, which provides teams with their final opportunity to refine their cars before qualifying.
Yet debris from a damaged car can present a danger to other drivers, marshals and spectators, while continuing with a puncture can cause further damage to the vehicle.
