F1 news :Lewis Hamilton Penalized for Impeding Verstappen Dur…Read more
F1 news :Lewis Hamilton Penalized for Impeding Verstappen Dur…Read more
Lewis Hamilton has been handed a three-place grid penalty for impeding Max Verstappen during the qualifying session of the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix. Originally securing fourth place, Hamilton will now start from seventh on the grid.
The incident occurred when Hamilton, misinformed by his Ferrari team that Verstappen was on a cooldown lap, inadvertently obstructed the Red Bull driver during his flying lap. Despite Verstappen’s immediate frustration, he later acknowledged the miscommunication and absolved Hamilton of direct blame.
The FIA stewards, after reviewing the situation, determined that the obstruction warranted a standard penalty, emphasizing that team miscommunication does not mitigate the driver’s responsibility.
This penalty significantly impacts Hamilton’s prospects in Monaco, a circuit notorious for its limited overtaking opportunities. Starting from seventh, he faces a challenging race ahead.
In the same qualifying session, McLaren’s Lando Norris clinched pole position with a record-breaking lap of 1:09.954, narrowly edging out Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by 0.109 seconds. Oscar Piastri secured third place, while Verstappen moved up to fourth following Hamilton’s penalty.
The Monaco Grand Prix is set to commence today at 2:00 PM local time, with the new mandatory two-pit-stop rule adding an extra layer of strategy to the race.
