Lewis Hamilton says it is “a bit crazy” that he was the only driver to receive a penalty for cutting a corner during the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Hamilton was given a 10-second penalty for “leaving the track and gaining a permanent advantage” in his fierce battle with Max Verstappen at the start of the race.
The pair went wheel-to-wheel through laps 1 and 2, before Verstappen cut through lap 3 to take third. On the descent to Turn 4, Hamilton tried to get around the outside of Verstappen, but locked up, cut the corner and got in front of the Red Bull driver.
“It felt like I was racing,” said Hamilton, who finished eighth.
“I was fine there. It was just a cut. Then I was the only one with a 10-second penalty. It was kind of crazy.”
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Lewis Hamilton was given a 10-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining the lead
Hamilton faced two investigations for cutting lap 4, the first for not following the race director’s notes of not passing the second lap zone, plus gaining the lead.
He avoided a penalty for first, but the stewards believe that Hamilton should have given Verstappen the position back.
They said: “Car 44 (HAM) locked up the brakes, left the track at Turn 4 and used the grass surface while re-joining at Turn 5. As the driver was unable to follow the race director’s route along the ‘yellow line’ due to speeding, it was deemed that no breach of the race director’s notice had occurred.
“However, by leaving the track and cutting the corner, the driver gained a sustained lead, overtaking car 1 (VER) and subsequently failed to regain position. Therefore, a standard penalty for leaving the track and gaining a sustained lead is issued.”
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Highlights of the Mexico City Grand Prix
Russell confused as stewards explain no penalty for Verstappen
Ahead of Turn 4, Verstappen and Hamilton made minor contact at Turn 1 as the Red Bull driver made an aggressive overtaking move. The stewards considered this a racing incident.
However, Verstappen cut into Turn 3, but the stewards actually investigated Hamilton and whether he had left enough room.
They said: “Car 1 (VER) overtook car 44 (HAM) on the inside of Turn 1. At the top, VER’s front axle was clearly in front of HAM’s mirror and therefore VER had the right to the racing line. HAM stayed close through the corner, resulting in slight contact between the wheels of both cars. The contact had no consequences for the car.
“Taking into account that HAM had limited opportunity to leave additional space on the track, that both cars were side by side through the corner and that the contact did not produce any sporting consequences and noting that no further action was taken in similar incidents in the past, the stewards determined that the matter was a racing incident.
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Max Verstappen was left disappointed after his thrilling pursuit of Charles Leclerc was interrupted by the virtual safety car
Mercedes’ George Russell says he “doesn’t understand” how Verstappen escaped a penalty for cutting two corners during the race.
Verstappen started fifth but had a better launch than fourth-placed Russell and went four wide along with Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc and Hamilton in a thrilling drive to the opening lap.
But the Dutchman locked up, cut the corner and allowed Hamilton to drop to fourth, which Russell felt was unfair.
“I don’t understand how three drivers can cut through the first corner and just continue in the position they came in,” Russell told Sky Sports F1.
“It’s like letting you risk everything and just have a get-out-of-jail-free card if you make a mistake.”
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Lando Norris holds off the Ferrari pair as Oscar Piastri loses places and Max Verstappen runs wide at the start of the race
On the incidents with Verstappen and Hamilton, Russell continued: “Obviously when Max and Lewis came together, Lewis was penalized and rightly so – but Max was off the track and came back.
“It was the wrong place and the wrong time for me and I lost three positions. Obviously I was quite frustrated but it all came from the 1st lap.”
It is not the first time corner cutting has been an issue at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, with Verstappen penalized in 2016 after the race following a thrilling battle with Sebastian Vettel, and Russell also highlighted the incident with Carlos Sainz last year.
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George Russell expresses his frustration at the start of the Mexico City Grand Prix, where three drivers veered off the track and avoided any penalty
“At the end of the day, it all comes full circle and there’s this get-out-of-jail-free card. If there was gravel, there wouldn’t be anybody,” he said.
“We’ve seen it almost every year we’ve been here. It was Carlos last year and Karls the year before or Lewis 10 years ago. It’s like a lawnmower race.
“Something needs to change there. It really shouldn’t be.”
The thrilling race for the Formula 1 title continues in Brazil with a sprint weekend at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix from November 7-9, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Ski Sports from NOW – no contract, cancel anytime