Breaking: Lewis Hamilton receives a 3-place grid penalty following Verstappen’s Im…read more
Lewis Hamilton Handed Three-Place Grid Penalty for Impeding Max Verstappen During Qualifying
In a dramatic turn of events during the latest Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend, Lewis Hamilton has been handed a three-place grid penalty for impeding Max Verstappen during the qualifying session. The penalty comes after an incident in which Hamilton appeared to block Verstappen during one of his flying laps, a move that immediately drew attention from the race stewards.
The incident occurred in Q2, when Verstappen was on a hot lap and encountered Hamilton’s Mercedes in the middle of the racing line. The Red Bull driver was forced to lift off the throttle, visibly frustrated as his lap was compromised. Team radios captured Verstappen expressing his displeasure, calling the move “unbelievable,” while Red Bull immediately requested the stewards review the moment.
Following a detailed post-session investigation, the stewards ruled that Hamilton had indeed impeded Verstappen. The official statement cited that Hamilton failed to move out of the way in time, despite being informed via team radio that a faster car was approaching. As per the FIA sporting regulations, this constituted a breach, and the penalty was applied accordingly.
“The Stewards reviewed positioning data, team radio and video evidence. Car 44 (Hamilton) was on a slow lap and did not move sufficiently off the racing line in time to avoid impeding Car 1 (Verstappen), which was on a fast lap. This impediment affected Car 1’s lap time, and therefore the penalty of a three-place grid drop has been issued,” the statement read.
Hamilton, speaking to media after the session, expressed regret over the situation but maintained that it was not intentional. “It wasn’t deliberate, of course. I didn’t realize Max was coming so quickly at that part of the lap. The communication with the team could’ve been better, and I’ll review it with them. It’s unfortunate and I understand the penalty.”
The penalty pushes Hamilton down three places on the starting grid from his original qualifying position. If he qualified fourth, for instance, he would now start seventh. This significantly affects his chances for a strong finish and adds more tension to his on-track rivalry with Verstappen, which has been one of the defining narratives of recent F1 seasons.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner welcomed the stewards’ decision, stating, “It’s a clear-cut case. Max was on a flying lap, and he got impeded. Thankfully the stewards acted quickly and fairly.”
Meanwhile, Toto Wolff, Mercedes’ team principal, acknowledged the ruling but hinted at inconsistencies in stewarding decisions. “We accept the decision, but I think incidents like this need to be judged with consistent criteria. There have been other similar moments that didn’t result in penalties.”
With the grid shuffled, the upcoming race promises an exciting battle, particularly between Hamilton and Verstappen, as they now have more ground to cover and positions to reclaim. The added tension may just ignite another chapter in their storied rivalry, keeping fans on the edge of their seats.
