Featured Image Credit: Kym Illman / Contributor via Getty
Topics: FIA, Formula 1, George Russell, Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen
James Taylor
Topics: FIA, Formula 1, George Russell, Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen
George Russell has criticised the FIA after Lewis Hamilton received a penalty at the Mexican Grand Prix, while Max Verstappen escaped punishment.
It was a drama-filled race on Sunday, as Lando Norris gained the world championship lead from his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri.
The Briton won convincingly in Mexico City, finishing more than half a minute ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Red Bull's Verstappen - with the win moving Norris one point clear of Piastri at the top of the drivers' standings.
Although there was plenty of action on track, Hamilton was the only driver penalised for cutting a corner.
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The seven-time world champion had been battling old rival Verstappen, going wheel to wheel through the first couple of corners.
The Dutchman then cut turn three, before Hamilton cut turn four.
But the Briton failed to follow the run-off zone, and rejoined the track more than two seconds ahead of Ollie Bearman, who had overtaken Verstappen.
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Hamilton was the only driver to receive a penalty in the race, despite his Ferrari teammate Leclerc also cutting a corner on the opening lap.
After the race, Hamilton said: "It felt like racing.
"I was fine there. It was just the cutting. Then I'm the only one to get a 10-second penalty. It was kind of nuts."
His former Mercedes teammate George Russell, who finished seventh, also felt Hamilton had been treated unfairly.
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He said: “I’m more confused at how three drivers can clip the first corner and just continue with no penalty.
"Max and Lewis both went off track and Lewis got the penalty.
"Max came on, pushed me wide, no penalty… that was a bit… that would’ve changed the race.”
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The stewards conducted two investigations into Hamilton at turn four. One for not following the race director's instructions and another for leaving the track and gaining a 'lasting advantage'.
He escaped punishment for the former, with his time penalty coming for the latter.
The stewards said: "Car 44 (HAM) locked brakes, left the track at Turn 4 and used the grass area while rejoining in the direction of Turn 5.
"As the driver was unable to follow the route prescribed by the Race Director along the "yellow line" due to an excess of speed, no breach of the Race Director's Notes is deemed to have occurred.
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"However, by leaving the track and cutting the corner, the driver gained a lasting advantage, overtaking Car 1 (VER) and failing to give back the position thereafter.
"The standard penalty for leaving the track and gaining a lasting advantage is therefore imposed."
Hamilton went on to finish eighth in Mexico, while his teammate Leclerc held off Verstappen for second place with the help of a final lap virtual safety car.
Hamilton remains sixth in the championship, now 64 points behind Leclerc.