Lewis Hamilton was left bemused by receiving a 10-second time penalty in the Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix, describing the decision as “kind of nuts”.
Hamilton’s race was ruined after being penalised by the stewards after taking to the run-off area amid a battle for position with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
Heading down into Turn 4 on Lap 6, the pair were contesting third when Hamilton locked up and took to the run-off area, rejoining via the grass, unable to sufficiently slow his Ferrari down.
The manoeuvre was investigated by the stewards, who decided to impose a 10-second penalty, which he served in the pits during a tyre stop.
Hamilton’s penalty cost him a chance of taking his first podium for the Scuderia at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
The Briton indicated after the race that he felt singled out by the decision, given that a number of drivers, including Verstappen, took to run off areas at the very start of the race.
“I mean, that’s pretty much the same as all the other people around me, so… Didn’t make sense,” he told media including Motorsport Week.
“I had a great start. You’re braking into Turn 1, I was into P2, I navigated through [Turns] 1, and 2, and 3. I didn’t go off track.
“Others cut it and held position and didn’t get penalties. It was pretty nuts.”
Hamilton explains tricky exit road problem amid Verstappen duel
The on-track battle with Verstappen reignited some old duels with the Dutchman, the pair going close for the first four corners of the lap, before the incident also left the Red Bull driver in trouble, being overtaken by the Haas of Oliver Bearman.
“It felt like racing,” Hamilton said, defending himself.
“I was fine there; it was just the cutting, and then I’m the only one to get a 10-second penalty. It was kind of nuts. 10 seconds, stop and go.”
Hamilton explained that going into Turn 4 with George Russell’s Mercedes also a threat, he “pinched the right front”, which sent him skidding into the run-off area.
The inside of the exit of the corner had a small tarmacked area, which Hamilton largely missed, something he blamed on the dusty surface.
“I went to go down the exit road, but it’s like the dustiest place on earth, and I couldn’t slow the car down, so I ended up patting the grass, but that’s the exit road.”
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