Hamilton Slams 'Nuts' Mexico GP Penalty, Vasseur Agrees

Lewis Hamilton was left fuming after the Mexico Grand Prix, branding the stewards' decision to hand him a 10-second penalty as “pretty nuts” following a wheel-to-wheel tussle with Max Verstappen. This controversial ruling, which Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur also criticized as “very, very harsh,” significantly impacted Hamilton's race, dropping him from a potential podium finish to eighth place and reigniting debates about officiating consistency in Formula 1.

Why it matters:

• The penalty highlights ongoing concerns about the consistency and severity of stewarding decisions in F1, an issue frequently raised by drivers and teams alike.
• Such rulings can dramatically alter race outcomes, impacting championship battles and team standings.
• For Ferrari, a strong finish would have been crucial in their Constructors' Championship fight.

The details:

• The Incident: Early in the Mexico Grand Prix, Hamilton locked up into Turn 4 while battling Verstappen, briefly leaving the track and cutting across the grass before rejoining ahead of the Red Bull driver.
• Stewards' Ruling: Stewards acknowledged Hamilton missed the prescribed rejoin route “due to an excess of speed” and concluded he gained an advantage by keeping his position.
• The Penalty: A 10-second stop-and-go penalty was imposed for “gaining a lasting advantage.”
• Hamilton's Frustration: Hamilton argued that others had cut the track and held position without penalty, calling the decision