Hamilton Pressed FIA for Action on 'All Cheating Cars' at Controversial Mexico GP Start

Lewis Hamilton vocally pushed for the FIA Stewards to take action against what he perceived as 'cheating' by multiple cars during the chaotic start of the Mexico City Grand Prix, an incident that ultimately saw him receive a penalty himself. His radio communications reveal escalating frustration regarding cars gaining an advantage by going off-track, even as he was dealing with his own race incidents.

Why it matters:

Lewis Hamilton's passionate and often confrontational radio messages during a race offer a rare glimpse into the intense pressure and split-second decision-making F1 drivers face. This particular incident highlights the controversial nature of track limit penalties and the subjective interpretations that often lead to driver dissatisfaction. It also underscores the importance of consistent officiating in maintaining fair competition and driver trust in the system.

The Details:

• Controversial Start: At the Mexico City Grand Prix's Turn 1, several drivers, including Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, and Andrea Kimi Antonelli, went off-track.
• Verstappen's Rejoin: Verstappen initially rejoined ahead of Hamilton but quickly yielded the position to avoid a penalty.
• Leclerc's Rejoin: Leclerc, however, rejoined in P1 ahead of Lando Norris and only handed the lead back to Norris, placing himself P2 ahead of Hamilton.
• Hamilton's Initial Frustration (Lap 1-4): Hamilton immediately relayed his belief that he should have been ahead of Leclerc, stating, "I was ahead of Charles." He also noted front wing damage and complained that "Max took a shortcut. Loads of people gained advantage." He repeatedly questioned his race engineer, Bono Adami, asking, "What are they doing about the cars?" and "What are they doing about people taking advantage at turn one?"
• Interaction with Verstappen (Lap 6-7): Hamilton had a battle with Verstappen where both drivers pushed wide. Hamilton reported, "I got pushed wide [at Turn 1]" and later, "I got hit [by Verstappen] at Turn one, pushed wide."
• FIA Response: Adami initially informed Hamilton, "The incident is noted, they are checking it." Later, he stated, "Nothing yet. Let’s focus on our race."
• Hamilton's Penalty (Lap 19): Ironically, Hamilton himself received a 10-second time penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage after an incident at Turn 4 with Verstappen. Adami conveyed, "We have 10 seconds penalty for the incident turn four with Verstappen. We don’t agree, but let’s keep the head down."
• Hamilton's Outrage: Hamilton reacted strongly, calling the penalty "such **** man" and lamenting the low grip. He continued to question the perceived inconsistency, asking, "What about all the other cars that cheated?" and "Has anyone else had a penalty?"
• Final Frustration: Hamilton concluded, "That’s ridiculous, mate" and deemed a "10 second stop-and-go is insane."

Between the Lines:

Hamilton's exasperation was palpable throughout the race, stemming from a belief that the officiating was inconsistent. While he was penalized for his own track excursion, he felt others who gained an advantage earlier in the race went unpunished. This incident highlights the ongoing debate within F1 regarding track limits, the nuances of 'gaining an advantage,' and the challenges faced by stewards in applying rules consistently in real-time, especially during chaotic race starts.

What's Next:

Discussions around track limits and penalty consistency are perennial in Formula 1. This incident will likely contribute to ongoing conversations among drivers, teams, and the FIA about how to improve clarity and fairness in race officiating. Drivers' perspectives, particularly those of seasoned champions like Hamilton, often influence rule adjustments and interpretations in subsequent seasons.