Lewis Hamilton expressed his frustration over receiving a 10-second penalty during the Mexican Grand Prix, calling the decision “unfortunate.” The penalty was imposed when Hamilton went off track at turn four while battling Max Verstappen.
The penalty dealt a significant blow to the Ferrari F1 driver, who was in third place after 17 laps. Hamilton immediately criticized the decision over the team radio when informed of the penalty by his engineer.
Attributing the mistake to the track conditions at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Hamilton highlighted the low grip levels, stating, “The grip there is minimal.”
Hamilton served the penalty by returning to the pits, rejoining the race in 14th position, impacting his chances of winning. Shortly after, Fernando Alonso retired from the race due to a mechanical issue, becoming the third driver to do so.
Liam Lawson and Nico Hulkenberg also faced early retirements due to mechanical problems. Hamilton, who was sixth in the Drivers’ Championship standings, trailed leader Oscar Piastri by 202 points.
Meanwhile, Hamilton’s teammate Charles Leclerc was one position ahead, maintaining a 50-point lead over the seven-time Formula 1 champion. The season has been challenging for Hamilton following his decision to leave Mercedes for Ferrari.
Despite not winning a Grand Prix this season, Hamilton’s best finishes include fourth places in the Italian, Austrian, British, and US GPs. While out of contention for the Drivers’ Championship, Hamilton aims to finish the remaining races in Brazil, Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi strongly.
The F1 Store is offering discounts of up to 70% on team kits and merchandise from Ferrari, McLaren, Red Bull, and more in its Easter flash sale. Daily Mirror is a ‘Preferred Source’ on Google News for convenient access to valued news content.