Lewis Hamilton has welcomed the FIA's investigation into crossing a live track in the wake of his actions in Qatar two weeks ago. On the opening lap of the race, Hamilton retired from the Grand Prix after coming together with team-mate George Russell at the first corner. Hamilton was attempting to overtake Russell around the outside of the turn but was pitched into the gravel. The seven-time World Champion accepted the blame and escaped punishment from the stewards for the collision, however he was called to the stewards for a separate matter. Making his way back to the pit lane, Hamilton crossed the track while it was live, instead of finding the nearest escape road to be safely escorted back to the paddock. Earlier this week, the FIA announced that it was revisiting the case as it is “concerned about the impression his actions may have created on younger drivers."
Important to send the right message
Hamilton was originally handed a €50,000 fine, €25,000 of which is suspended for 12 months. The seven-time World Champion insisted that it is important to highlight the danger of such actions to younger generations. "They’ve spoken to me," Hamilton told media including RacingNews365 . "I think it's important. "When I was sat in the meeting with them in the stewards' office, I obviously put my hands up, in the heat the moment it was the wrong decision [to cross the track]. "What's important is to send the right message, particularly for the younger drivers through throughout the ages that's not the thing to do. "I apologised at the time, and I think they're just looking into how to make sure that doesn't happen moving forward."
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