Hamilton still reeling from Mexico penalty

Lewis Hamilton is struggling with the consequences of a 10-second time penalty he received at the Mexico City Grand Prix. The penalty, which significantly harmed his chance to finish on the podium for the first time this season, was given after he cut across the grass to stay ahead of Max Verstappen.

Lack of Transparency in Steward Decisions

Hamilton criticized the stewards' decision-making process, calling out its lack of clarity and accountability. Although the penalty was technically justified, it sparked debate due to inconsistent enforcement compared to other similar incidents in the race.

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc cut the first corners on Lap 1 to maintain position ahead of Hamilton. While he briefly gave way to Lando Norris to avoid a penalty, Leclerc kept his place without further sanctions.
Max Verstappen also cut the same corner on Lap 1 and later made an aggressive move on Hamilton at Turn 1 on Lap 6, yet was not penalized.

Hamilton's penalty came on the same lap as Verstappen's unpunished move, deepening his frustration.

“The stewards’ decision-making process lacks transparency and accountability,” Hamilton said ahead of the São Paulo Grand Prix.

Context of the Penalty

The penalty followed a later off-track move by Hamilton on Lap 6. This contrasted sharply with how officials treated similar incidents during the chaotic opening laps, raising questions about consistency.

Upcoming Challenges

As Hamilton prepares for the São Paulo Grand Prix, he remains candid about his concerns over the FIA's methods and their impact on the fairness of racing outcomes.

“It’s difficult to accept when similar actions go unpunished for others but affect my race significantly,” Hamilton added.

Author’s summary: Lewis Hamilton criticizes inconsistency and lack of transparency in stewarding after a penalty at the Mexico GP, which affected his first podium chance this season.

F1i.com — 2025-11-07