World Champion Lewis Hamilton is now up to eight penalty points after his transgression at Formula 1’s Italian Grand Prix.
Hamilton controlled the early stages of the race at Monza before coming into the pit lane when the Safety Car was deployed for Kevin Magnussen’s stricken Haas.
But 12 seconds before Hamilton entered the pit lane Race Control closed it due to the location of Magnussen’s car.
He was handed a 10-second stop and go penalty, which dropped him to the rear of the field, from where he recovered to seventh.
He was also issued two penalty points on his licnese, bringing his rolling 12-month total to eight.
Hamilton picked up two points for clashing with Alexander Albon in Brazil last November and was also issued the same number for again colliding with the Red Bull driver in 2020’s opener in Austria.
At the same event Hamilton was handed another two points for failing to adhere to yellow flags during qualifying.
If a Formula 1 driver accrues 12 points during a 12-month period then their Super Licence is suspended for one event.
No-one has yet hit the 12-point mark since the system was introduced into Formula 1.
Hamilton will be on eight points until at least November 17, when his points from Brazil last year will be wiped, during which period there are six grands prix.
These penalties are hogwash. You shouldn’t be penalized for accidents that are not intentional (and they can’t prove it), esp. after you are penalized severely during the race. The FIA penalizes everyone else but won’t admit to their own criminal activity like letting Ferrari get away with just about anything. Talk about a group of malignant narcissist hypocrites.