Lewis Hamilton feels singled out by ‘kind of nuts’ F1 penalty at Mexico City GP

Lewis Hamilton has slammed his 10-second time penalty on the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix as being “fairly nuts”.

Seven-time world champion Hamilton was hit with the heavy punishment for leaving the observe and gaining a bonus amid his duel with former title rival Max Verstappen in Sunday’s race on the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

Hamilton locked up and ran throughout the grass because the pair battled at Flip 4, earlier than re-emerging forward of Verstappen, who was then overtaken by Haas driver Oliver Bearman.

Hamilton retained third place on observe however obtained a 10-second penalty that was utilized throughout his pit cease.

The penalty ruined the 40-year-old Briton’s hopes of claiming his first podium as a Ferrari driver as he went on to complete eighth.

Hamilton was left bemused as to why he was punished for leaving the observe, however different drivers together with Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, and Verstappen, weren’t for doing the identical at Flip 1 initially.

“I imply, that’s just about the identical as all the opposite folks round me, so… Didn’t make sense,” Hamilton advised reporters after the race in Mexico Metropolis.

“I had a terrific begin. You’re braking into Flip 1, I used to be into P2, I navigated by means of [Turns] 1, and a pair of, and three. I didn’t go off observe.

“Others minimize it and held place and didn’t get penalties. It was fairly nuts.”

Hamilton feels exhausting accomplished by

Hamilton discovered himself investigated for a number of incidents with Verstappen, together with a conflict that noticed the pair bang wheels at Flip 1, moments earlier than the off-track tour that led to his pricey penalty.

“It felt like racing,” Hamilton stated. “I used to be high-quality there; it was simply the chopping, after which I’m the one one to get a 10-second penalty. It was form of nuts. 10 seconds, cease and go.

“I went to go down the exit street, nevertheless it’s just like the dustiest place on earth, and I couldn’t gradual the automobile down, so I ended up patting the grass, however that’s the exit street.”

Hamilton gave a reasonably abrupt post-race interview to Sky Sports activities F1.

“It was enjoyable initially and it did not find yourself the best way I might hoped. That is motor racing,” he stated.

“It’s totally, very soiled offline and I did the perfect I may to carry the automobile again to the observe safely. That is all I may hope for.

“Sure, there are some positives. We acquired some factors, at the very least.”