Ferrari staff principal Fred Vasseur argued Lewis Hamilton’s 10 second penalty through the Mexico Grand Prix was “very, very harsh” and “not very properly managed”.
Hamilton was handed a penalty for leaving the observe and gaining a “lasting benefit” after an intense battle with four-time champion Max Verstappen.
The official assertion from the stewards famous, “Automotive 44 (HAM) locked brakes, left the observe at Flip 4 and used the grass space whereas rejoining within the path of Flip 5. As the motive force was unable to observe the route prescribed by the Race Director alongside the ‘yellow line’ because of an extra of velocity, no breach of the Race Director’s Notes is deemed to have occurred.
“Nonetheless, by leaving the observe and slicing the nook, the motive force gained a long-lasting benefit, overtaking Automotive 1 (VER) and failing to present again the place thereafter. The usual penalty for leaving the observe and gaining a long-lasting benefit is due to this fact imposed.”
Because of this, Hamilton completed the Mexico Grand Prix in eighth place after ranging from third. Vasseur claimed the penalty price Hamilton P4.
“This price us P4… One factor is the penalty, for positive, that we did not observe the race director’s notes. However 10 seconds, I do not bear in mind when somebody took 10 seconds,” the Frenchman defined.
“In case you contemplate, when you have the worldwide image, saying that Max lower the nook earlier than, he lower the chicane, within the grass, 100 metres. I feel it is not very properly managed, truthfully.
“Since you are in Mexico, on prime of this, I do not say that it’s important to adapt the penalty to the observe, however it’s important to perceive what you’re doing. He took the ten seconds. This dropped us on the queue of the group and we won’t overtake.
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Picture by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Photos through Getty Photos
“It is after the pitstop that you don’t have any problem to get better. This price us, in all probability P4, even with the 5 seconds, I feel we have been nonetheless P4. However with 10 seconds…”
Vasseur mentioned Hamilton’s penalty additional with Sky Sports activities Germany.
“I feel total it was a great weekend. We had a really robust tempo yesterday in quali with P2 and P3, and immediately I feel that Lando was a step forward a minimum of and it was troublesome to think about to do higher than P2,” he added.
“The draw back, or the detrimental facet, might be the penalty. I discovered the penalty a bit harsh — 10 seconds may be very, very harsh as a result of this dropped us behind all of the group, and in Mexico it’s so troublesome to overhaul that this price us.”
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