Lewis Hamilton expressed frustration over receiving a 10-second penalty during the Mexican Grand Prix, criticizing the decision made by race officials. The penalty was a result of Hamilton leaving the track at turn four to gain an advantage over Max Verstappen.
The penalty significantly impacted Hamilton, who was running in third place after 17 laps of the race. He immediately conveyed his discontent with the penalty through his team radio, disagreeing with the decision.
Hamilton attributed the error to the track conditions at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, stating that the grip was extremely low in that area. Following the penalty, he returned to the pits and rejoined the race in 14th position, diminishing his chances of winning.
Shortly after Hamilton’s penalty, Fernando Alonso retired from the race due to a mechanical issue, becoming the third driver to do so at the Mexican Grand Prix. Liam Lawson and Nico Hulkenberg also faced early retirements due to mechanical problems.
Heading into the race, Hamilton was sixth in the Drivers’ Championship standings, trailing Oscar Piastri by 202 points. His teammate, Charles Leclerc, was one position ahead, with a 50-point lead over the seven-time Formula 1 champion.
This season has been challenging for Hamilton, especially after his decision to leave Mercedes and join Ferrari. He has not secured a victory in any Grand Prix so far, with his best finishes being fourth place in several races.
Although he is no longer in contention for the Drivers’ Championship, Hamilton aims to finish the remaining four races of the year in Brazil, Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi on a positive note.