Lewis Hamilton Blasts “Pretty Nuts” 10-Second Penalty After Mexico City GP Duel with Verstappen

Lewis Hamilton has criticised the 10-second time penalty he received during the Mexico City Grand Prix, calling the decision “pretty nuts” after it cost him a potential first podium finish with Ferrari.

The seven-time world champion was penalised for leaving the track and gaining an advantage during a fierce battle with Max Verstappen on Sunday at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.

The Incident

The flashpoint occurred on lap 18 as Hamilton and Verstappen fought for third place. Hamilton locked up under braking into Turn 4, ran across the grass, and rejoined the track ahead of his rival. In the chaos, Haas rookie Oliver Bearman briefly overtook Verstappen before the order stabilised.

Hamilton retained third position on track, but stewards deemed he had gained an advantage by cutting the corner. The 10-second penalty, served during his pit stop, dropped him out of podium contention and he ultimately finished eighth.

“Didn’t Make Sense”

Hamilton was left frustrated by the decision, arguing that other drivers including teammate Charles Leclerc and Verstappen himself had gone off track earlier in the race without facing similar punishment.

“I mean, that’s pretty much the same as all the other people around me, so… didn’t make sense,” Hamilton told reporters post-race.

“I had a great start. You’re braking into Turn 1, I was into P2, I navigated through Turns 1, 2, and 3. I didn’t go off track. Others cut it and held position and didn’t get penalties. It was pretty nuts.”

Hamilton was also investigated for multiple wheel-to-wheel incidents with Verstappen, including light contact at Turn 1 moments before his off-track excursion.

“It felt like racing,” he said. “I was fine there; it was just the cutting, and then I’m the only one to get a 10-second penalty. It was kind of nuts. Ten seconds stop and go.

“I went to go down the exit road, but it’s like the dustiest place on earth, and I couldn’t slow the car down, so I ended up patting the grass. But that’s the exit road.”

“That’s Motor Racing”

Speaking to Sky Sports F1 after the race, Hamilton gave a short but pointed interview, reflecting on what might have been.

“It was fun at the start, and it didn’t end up the way I’d hoped. That’s motor racing,” he said. “It’s very, very dirty offline, and I did the best I could to bring the car back to the track safely. That’s all I could hope for.

“Yes, there are some positives we got some points, at least.”

The result extends Hamilton’s podium drought with Ferrari to 19 Grands Prix, breaking a 43-year-old record previously held by Didier Pironi for the longest wait to reach the rostrum after joining the Scuderia.

Still, Hamilton remains optimistic that a breakthrough is coming and with five races left in the 2025 season, he’ll have more chances to end that streak.

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