Ferrari boss lashes out over 'not very well managed' Hamilton's penalty

09:56, 27 Oct

Updated: 12:17, 27 Oct

byTobia Elia

Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur disagreed with the stewards over the penalty handed to Lewis Hamilton during the Mexican Grand Prix.

"I think it's not very well managed, honestly"

- Frederic Vasseur

Speaking to the media after the race, the Frenchman felt the ten-second penalty handed to his driver was excessive. "This cost us P4.. One thing is the penalty, for sure, that we didn't follow the race director's notes. But 10 seconds, I don't remember when someone took 10 seconds.

"If you have the global picture, saying that Max cut the corner before, he cut the chicane, in the grass, 100 metres. I think it's not very well managed, honestly.

"Because you are in Mexico, on top of this, I don't say that you have to adapt the penalty to the track, but you have to understand what you are doing. He took the 10 seconds. This dropped us at the queue of the group and we can't overtake.

Photo: RacePictures

Finally, the Frenchman added: "It's after the pitstop that you have no issue to recover. This cost us, probably P4, even with the five seconds, I think we were still P4. But with 10 seconds."

After the penalty was applied, the Brit quickly dropped down the order but mounted a solid recovery on a two-stop strategy, eventually crossing the line in eighth place.

Hamilton questions stewards after F1 Mexico GP

The man at the centre of the controversy also shared his thoughts, pointing out that other drivers had cut the same corner without being penalised.

Hamilton was sanctioned for cutting Turn 4 and gaining a “lasting advantage” over Verstappen without giving the position back — an infringement that resulted in a ten-second penalty, effectively ruining his race and his bid for a podium finish.

Here’s what the seven-time world champion had to say about it.

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