From being two penalty points away from a race ban to a lenient 25.000 euro fine. This is the epilogue of Lewis Hamilton’s hectic Sunday in Sochi. After the Stewards’ hearing, the FIA declared that the driver was mistakenly instructed by the team on where he was supposed to perform his pre-race practice starts and was no longer deserving of such penalty-point punishment.

Fortunes can change quickly, especially in sports. Lewis Hamilton, who failed to equal Michael Schumacher’s 91-win record in Russia, endured a troubled race after having been hit by two time penalties.

The Briton was handed two 5s penalties for illegal practice start procedures before the race, hence crossing the line in 3^rd. Teammate Valtteri Bottas picked up the win on Russian turf ahead of Red Bull’s own Max Verstappen.

Following polemic claims hinting at the FIA trying to stop him, Lewis Hamilton was pardoned by the stewards and his two penalty points from the Russian GP were turned into a monetary fine. Therefore, he is no longer two points away from a race ban in the upcoming events, after this had added fuel to the fire as the penalty saga unraveled.

Lewis Hamilton will attempt to equal Michael Schumacher's record in two weeks' time at the Eifel GP (Nurburgring).