Lewis Hamilton receives another penalty, this time 10 seconds. What earned him this sanction at the Mexican GP?
The 2025 Mexican Grand Prix not only offered intense battles, it also sparked controversy. Lewis Hamilton, now a Ferrari driver, received a penalty of 10 seconds. The reason was that he left the track and gained a lasting advantage. This sanction changed the course of his race and caused his confusion.
Why the penalty of 10 seconds for Hamilton?
The race had actually started well for Hamilton, who was starting from third position. Quickly, he was wheel-to-wheel with his former rival Max Verstappen. He then found himself in a sequence reminiscent of their past duels.
A hectic start from the first corner
From the very first meters, the two champions brushed past each other in a tense sequence between turns 1 and 3. Verstappen briefly cut the track, while the Brit, staying on the racing line, maintained his position. But what happened next for Hamilton to receive this sentence of 10 seconds ?
In fact, at turn 4, things became complicated for the Ferrari driver. A wheel lock pushed Hamilton across the grass before returning to the track ahead of Verstappen. A spectacular maneuver… but against the spirit of the rules.
Was Hamilton penalized 10 seconds immediately?
The stewards first examined whether Hamilton had violated the race director’s notes regarding rejoining the track. The answer to this question is no, he did not break any rules. He was going too fast to use the prescribed runoff, which constituted a mitigating circumstance.
An infraction deemed “advantageous” by the stewards
The second investigation, however, was decisive. By cutting the track and rejoining ahead of Verstappen, Hamilton gained a position that he did not give back. This led to the penalty at the Mexican GP.
A standard penalty of 10 seconds for Hamilton
According to FIA regulations, leaving the track and gaining a lasting advantage automatically results in a 10-second penalty. This scale can only be reduced in case of mitigating circumstances. Unfortunately, it was not applied here.
Pedro Lamy, a guest steward this weekend, confirmed the panel’s logic. According to him, Ferrari car No. 44 had gained a clear advantage and did not respect the fairness of the race. They therefore penalized Lewis Hamilton 10 seconds.
A compliant but controversial decision
Certainly, the decision respects the rules, but it surprised several observers. After all, Verstappen also cut a corner without receiving a penalty. This fueled a sense of injustice among fans and within the paddock.
Hamilton finds these 10 seconds unfair
At the finish, Hamilton expressed his dismay. For him, the sanction was not proportional to the incident. He also said it lacked consistency compared to other similar cases.
“I’m the only one penalized”
“I had a great start, I was second at the first corner. Others went off track and were not penalized. And in the end, I’m the only one taking ten seconds. It’s a bit crazy,” the Brit said after the race.
They applied the penalty of 10 seconds during Hamilton’s first pit stop. This destroyed any hope of a podium for the seven-time World Champion. The Brit ultimately finished eighth, despite showing a solid pace in the race.
A recurring debate on the Mexican track
Several drivers, including George Russell, also criticized the Hermanos Rodríguez circuit layout. Its asphalt runoffs allow drivers to “cut” without real consequences. This makes stewards’ decisions more complex.
Calls are increasing to rethink risky zones with gravel or real grass. This would help deter such maneuvers. Until then, controversies around Hamilton’s 10-second penalty are likely to repeat.