Lewis Hamilton Receives Five-Place Grid Penalty for Italian GP After Dutch GP Infraction

The Big Picture

Lewis Hamilton has been handed a five-place grid penalty for the upcoming Italian Grand Prix at Monza. The Ferrari driver was penalized for driving too fast during reconnaissance laps at the Dutch Grand Prix, specifically violating safety protocols under double yellow flags near the pitlane entry.

Why it matters

This penalty significantly impacts Hamilton's starting position at Ferrari's home race, a crucial event. It underscores the FIA's strict enforcement of safety regulations, especially in high-risk areas like Zandvoort's pit entry where personnel gather.

The details

• Stewards determined Hamilton did not reduce his speed "significantly" enough in a double yellow flag sector. FIA Race Director Rui Marques had explicitly requested reduced speeds due to the challenging circuit.
• Telemetry showed Hamilton reduced speed by approximately 20kph compared to practice and braked earlier, but stewards found this insufficient.
• While a 10-place penalty is standard, his attempt to slow down led to a reduced five-place grid drop.
• Hamilton also received two penalty points, his first in the past 12 months.

Meanwhile

Teammate Charles Leclerc avoided a penalty for his Turn 12 clash with George Russell, ruled a racing incident due to inconclusive evidence. However, Leclerc later retired from the race after an incident with Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who received a 10-place grid penalty for his role.