Lewis Hamilton fumes over Mexico GP penalty: “Pretty nuts”
Lewis Hamilton called his 10-second Mexico GP penalty for cutting Turn 4 “pretty nuts" as he questioned the stewards after it dropped him to P8
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Photo by: Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton has voiced his frustration after he received a 10-second penalty during the Mexico Grand Prix that dropped him to eighth. Calling the decision "pretty nuts," the seven-time Formula 1 champion questioned the consistency of the stewards after similar moments from other drivers went unpunished.
“I had a great start, and we were braking into Turn 1, I was in Turn 2, I navigated through 1 and 2 and 3, and then didn't go off track… others cut it, and held position, and didn't get penalties. It's pretty nuts," he said.
Asked if the penalty had been explained to him, he continued: “It's kind of pretty much the same as all the other people around me, so…” He did, however, enjoy his fight with Red Bull's Max Verstappen.
“That's… It felt like racing, I was fine there, it was just him cutting, and then I’m the only one to get a 10-second penalty - a 10-second stop and go.”
The Stewards ruled that Hamilton gained a lasting advantage after locking up at Turn 4 and cutting the corner over the grass. He rejoined the track ahead of Verstappen without reducing his lead. For this reason, he was given a 10-second penalty.
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
The Ferrari driver explained what took place at Turn 4: "I pinched the front, I went to go down the exit road, but it's like the dustiest place on earth, and then I pinched the other car down, so I ended up back in the grass, but it was the exit road.”
Despite the penalty, there were "still some positives to take" from the race for the driver, and this difficult Sunday won't stop him from continuing the fight.
"I really, really don't know what to expect moving forward, but I'll keep trying. I'll get up tomorrow, train, I'm trying to prepare; I can't let those that aren't necessarily being helpful stop me from moving forward."
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