Lewis Hamilton expressed frustration over receiving a 10-second penalty during the Mexican Grand Prix. The penalty was for gaining an advantage by leaving the track during a battle with Max Verstappen.
The penalty dealt a blow to Hamilton, who was running in third place at the time. He immediately criticized the decision over the team radio, calling it “unfortunate.”
Hamilton attributed the error to the track conditions at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, stating that the low grip level played a role in the incident.
Following the penalty, Hamilton dropped to 14th place, significantly affecting his chances of winning the race. Shortly after, Fernando Alonso retired due to a mechanical issue, becoming the third driver to do so during the event.
The race also saw retirements from Liam Lawson and Nico Hulkenberg due to mechanical problems. Hamilton entered the race in sixth place in the Drivers’ Championship, trailing leader Oscar Piastri by 202 points.
His teammate Charles Leclerc was one position ahead of him in the standings, with a 50-point advantage over the seven-time Formula 1 champion. Hamilton’s season has been challenging after his decision to leave Mercedes for Ferrari.
Despite not winning a Grand Prix so far this season, Hamilton’s best finishes have been fourth places in the Italian, Austrian, British, and US GPs. He is no longer in contention for the Drivers’ Championship but aims to finish the season strongly in the remaining races in Brazil, Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi.