Lewis Hamilton expressed strong dissatisfaction with race officials’ decision to impose a 10-second penalty on him during the Mexican Grand Prix. The penalty was a result of Hamilton leaving the track on turn four to gain an advantage in his battle with Max Verstappen.
This penalty dealt a significant blow to the Ferrari F1 star, who was running in third place after completing 17 laps of the race. Hamilton immediately voiced his disagreement with the decision over team radio when informed of the penalty.
Attributing the error to the track conditions at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Hamilton criticized the low grip level, stating, “The grip there is so low.” He promptly returned to the pits to serve his penalty, rejoining the race in 14th position, severely impacting his chances of winning.
Shortly after Hamilton’s penalty, Fernando Alonso became the third driver to retire from the Grand Prix due to a mechanical issue. Liam Lawson and Nico Hulkenberg also faced early retirements due to mechanical problems.
Heading into the race, Hamilton was sixth in the Drivers’ Championship standings, trailing leader Oscar Piastri by 202 points. His teammate Charles Leclerc held a higher position, with a 50-point lead over the seven-time Formula 1 champion.
Hamilton’s decision to leave Mercedes for Ferrari has presented challenges this season, as he has yet to secure a Grand Prix victory. Despite this, he aims to finish the remaining races of the year in Brazil, Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi on a strong note.
Fans can enjoy discounts of up to 60% on Formula 1 merchandise, including products from Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren, Red Bull, and more until Sunday.
