During the FP2 session at the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton almost collided with fellow driver Kimi Antonelli, sparking outrage among Formula 1 fans. The tense moment unfolded at the Red Bull Ring when the Mercedes driver slowed on the racing line while Antonelli, in pursuit of a fast lap, approached closely, narrowly avoiding a crash.
The incident overshadowed an already difficult day for Hamilton, who struggled with his SF25 car’s pace and mechanical issues throughout the Friday practice sessions. The seven-time world champion placed ninth in FP1 and slipped to tenth in FP2, trailing teammate Charles Leclerc, who impressed by finishing fifth despite missing the initial practice session.
Details of the Near-Collision Between Hamilton and Antonelli
The near-miss happened at Turn 4 during FP2, when Hamilton’s unusually slow pace while navigating the corner put Antonelli, a promising young Ferrari driver, in a precarious position during his flying lap. Officials later reviewed the incident, resulting in a warning for Antonelli after the season concluded, although he managed to avoid contact with the experienced Mercedes driver.
Video clips shared by Formula 1 highlighted the narrow avoidance, showing Antonelli’s quick reflexes in evading what could have been a serious crash involving Hamilton.
Fan Reactions Amplify Calls for Changes to Hamilton’s Team
The close call prompted strong responses on social media, where fans expressed their frustration with Hamilton’s communication setup during the session. Many questioned the guidance he was receiving from his race engineer, suggesting a change was urgently needed. Comments from fans included:
“Lewis desperately needs a new race engineer.”
“Ferrari need to get someone in who understands Hamilton.”
“It was close! Too close!” said a fan.
“Did Ricky warn him?” questioned a fan.
“Ferrari really need to sort out their guy on Hamiltons Comms. Not the first time this,” wrote a fan.
“LH’s engineer letting him down,” said another.
Hamilton’s Difficult Start to the Austrian GP Weekend
Aside from the incident, Hamilton’s performance in Austria was hampered by technical troubles, including gearbox issues in the morning session that limited his running time. His struggles contrasted sharply with teammate Leclerc’s more competitive pace as the team trialed an upgraded floor on the SF25.
Hamilton acknowledged the challenges posed by the new floor design, which was intended to improve performance but, in his view, failed to boost their competitiveness. Speaking to RacingNews365, he said:
“A huge amount of work went into bringing the floor, but as you can see, it has not necessarily changed our competitiveness. The car doesn’t actually feel that bad; it is just a huge chunk off pace-wise, so we need to look into that, and that is about it, really.
“We’ll just keep pushing and trying to dial the car in more and see what we can get, but it is obviously close in the top 10, a tenth can make a difference, so that’s what we’ll work on. It was not spectacular, and we had a problem with the gearbox in the morning, which was difficult and frustrating for everyone.”
Looking Ahead: Ferrari and Hamilton Aim to Improve Qualifying and Race Performance
Following a difficult start to the weekend, Hamilton and the Ferrari team plan to make adjustments to the SF25 overnight. Their goal is to enhance the car’s balance and speed to contend more effectively in qualifying and the main race. This incident and Hamilton’s ongoing challenges have already sparked discussions about his team dynamics, with fans demanding improvements in his race engineering support to avoid similar risks moving forward.