Just in: Lewis Hamilton Penalized with Grid Drop following Monaco GP disqualification p…read more
Lewis Hamilton Penalized with Grid Drop following Monaco GP disqualification p…read more
Lewis Hamilton has received a grid penalty following a post-qualifying investigation at the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix, which will see him start the race from seventh position rather than the fourth place he initially secured. The penalty came after an incident in which Hamilton was deemed to have impeded Max Verstappen during a critical part of the qualifying session.
During the session, Hamilton, now driving for Ferrari, was completing one of his laps when Max Verstappen, competing for Red Bull Racing, was on a high-speed flying lap. At a key moment, Hamilton remained on the racing line and slowed down, obstructing Verstappen’s run. This interference negatively impacted Verstappen’s performance, as the Red Bull driver was in the middle of a timed lap intended to improve his grid position.
The situation was sparked by a miscommunication between Hamilton and his team. Ferrari’s race engineer mistakenly informed the seven-time world champion that Verstappen had backed off and was no longer pushing for a competitive time. Believing this information to be accurate, Hamilton slowed down on track and stayed on the optimal racing line, not realizing that Verstappen was still at full pace and attempting to complete a fast lap.
After the session concluded, the FIA summoned Hamilton to discuss the incident. The stewards thoroughly reviewed team radio communications, on-track data, and video footage. It was determined that although Hamilton had acted based on the information provided to him by Ferrari, the action still led to an obstruction of another driver during a crucial phase of qualifying.
The FIA emphasized that, despite the lack of intent on Hamilton’s part, the rules regarding impeding are clear and must be applied consistently. As a result, Hamilton was handed a three-place grid drop for the race. This moves him from his original fourth-place qualifying result down to seventh on the starting grid for Sunday’s Grand Prix.
Hamilton, who has previously won the Monaco Grand Prix three times, expressed disappointment over the penalty but acknowledged the stewards’ ruling. Ferrari also issued a statement recognizing their error in communication and accepting the decision.
This development adds another twist to the always unpredictable Monaco Grand Prix, where grid position is particularly important due to the track’s tight layout and limited overtaking opportunities. Verstappen, though affected by the incident, is expected to still start in a competitive position, as the Red Bull team works to adjust strategy accordingly.
