Lewis Hamilton expressed strong disapproval towards race officials’ decision to impose a 10-second penalty on him during the Mexican Grand Prix. Hamilton received the penalty for cutting a corner and gaining an advantage while battling against Max Verstappen.
The penalty was a significant setback for Hamilton, who was in third place after 17 laps of the race. He immediately criticized the decision over the team radio when informed about the penalty by his engineer.
Hamilton attributed the error to the track conditions at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, stating that the grip on the track was insufficient. He served the penalty promptly, rejoining the race in 14th position, greatly 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 mechanical problems during the event.
Heading into the race, Hamilton was sixth in the Drivers’ Championship standings, 202 points behind the leader, Oscar Piastri. His teammate, Charles Leclerc, was positioned one place above him, with a 50-point advantage over the seven-time Formula 1 champion.
Hamilton’s decision to leave Mercedes for Ferrari has presented challenges this season, as he has yet to secure a Grand Prix victory. His best results so far have been fourth-place finishes in several races.
Although Hamilton is not in contention for the Drivers’ Championship, he aims to finish the season strongly in the remaining races in Brazil, Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi. Additionally, Fanatics has unveiled the 2026 team kits for Ferrari, McLaren, Red Bull, and other teams.