Lewis Hamilton expressed his frustration over race officials’ decision to penalize him with a 10-second penalty at the Mexican Grand Prix. The penalty was imposed for an incident where he left the track on turn four while battling with Max Verstappen.
This penalty came at a crucial moment for the Ferrari F1 driver, who was in third place after 17 laps of the race. Hamilton did not hold back his disappointment and immediately criticized the decision over the team radio when informed of the penalty.
He attributed the error to the track conditions at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, stating that the grip level was extremely low at that particular turn. Hamilton swiftly returned to the pits to serve his penalty, rejoining the race in 14th position, significantly affecting his chances of securing a race win.
Shortly after these events, Fernando Alonso became the third driver to retire from the Grand Prix due to mechanical issues. Liam Lawson and Nico Hulkenberg also faced mechanical problems during the race.
Heading into the race, Hamilton was sixth in the Drivers’ Championship standings, trailing leader Oscar Piastri by 202 points. His teammate Charles Leclerc was one position above him, maintaining a 50-point lead over the seven-time Formula 1 champion.
Hamilton’s decision to leave Mercedes and join Ferrari has presented challenges this season, as he has yet to secure a Grand Prix victory. His best finishes so far have been fourth places in the Italian, Austrian, British, and US GPs.
Although out of contention for the Drivers’ Championship, Hamilton aims to finish the season strongly in the upcoming races in Brazil, Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi. Fans can now enjoy up to 65% discounts on Formula 1 merchandise at Kitbag, featuring products from top teams like Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren, and Red Bull.