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 him going off track at turn four while competing against Max Verstappen, which Hamilton believed gave him an unfair advantage.
The penalty dealt a significant blow to Hamilton, who was in third place after completing 17 laps of the race. He immediately conveyed his frustration over the penalty via team radio when informed by his engineer, calling the decision “unacceptable.”
Hamilton attributed the incident to the track conditions at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, citing the lack of grip on the track as a contributing factor to his error. Following the penalty, Hamilton had to pit and re-enter the race in 14th position, severely impacting his chances of a race victory.
Shortly after Hamilton’s penalty, Fernando Alonso was forced to retire from the Grand Prix due to a mechanical issue, adding to the drama of the race. Other drivers like Liam Lawson and Nico Hulkenberg also faced mechanical troubles during the event.
In the Drivers’ Championship standings, Hamilton was positioned sixth, trailing behind Oscar Piastri in the lead. His teammate Charles Leclerc held a higher position, maintaining a 50-point lead over Hamilton. This season has been challenging for Hamilton since his transition from Mercedes to Ferrari, with no Grand Prix wins thus far and his best finishes being fourth places in several races.
Although Hamilton is no longer in contention for the Drivers’ Championship, he aims to finish the season strongly in the upcoming races in Brazil, Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi. Fans can also enjoy up to a 50% discount on Formula 1 merchandise at Kitbag, featuring products from top teams like Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren, and Red Bull.