Jacques Villeneuve Defends 'Deserved' Hamilton Penalty in Mexico

1997 F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve has publicly supported the stewards' decision to issue Lewis Hamilton a 10-second time penalty at the Mexican Grand Prix, deeming it “deserved.” Hamilton, starting from third, saw his podium aspirations unravel early in the race following an incident with Max Verstappen.

Why it matters:

Controversial penalties often spark heated debate within the F1 community, but Villeneuve's clear stance as a former champion lends significant weight. His defense of the stewards' call underscores the importance of adhering to racing regulations, especially when drivers gain a clear advantage by cutting the track. This incident highlights the challenges stewards face in maintaining fair play and the fine line drivers walk when pushing limits.

The Details:

• Hamilton qualified third at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, positioning him for a strong race and a potential podium finish for Ferrari.
• On lap six, Hamilton and Verstappen engaged in a fierce battle through the opening corners. Verstappen dived inside at Turn 1, with the fight continuing through Turns 2, 3, and into Turn 4.
• At Turn 4, Hamilton locked up, ran wide across the escape road, and cut onto the grass.
• He rejoined the track a significant distance ahead of Verstappen, having gained a clear advantage by not losing time or positions as he would have had he stayed on track.
• Stewards' Decision: Hamilton failed to cede the gained position or time, leading to a 10-second time penalty served during his first pit stop.
• Villeneuve's Rationale: Speaking on the Sky F1 podcast, Villeneuve stated, "Yeah, the deserved penalty. It sounds tough 10 seconds, and it was a lot in that race."
  • He emphasized that Hamilton couldn't give the place back to Max, but the key issue was rejoining "100 metres [ahead] with a 100-metre lead and just kept it."
  • Villeneuve added, "That's a huge advantage on the whole pack, not just on gaining a position or not, and that was the big issue. And he didn't even try and or bother to actually slow down a bit."

Between the lines:

Villeneuve’s comments suggest that while penalties can feel harsh in the moment, they are necessary to deter drivers from exploiting track limits for an unfair advantage. His observation that Hamilton didn't even attempt to slow down highlights the perceived deliberate nature of retaining the advantage, which ultimately led to the stewards' firm decision. This ruling serves as a reminder that immediate advantages gained through rule infractions will almost always be penalized.