Lewis Hamilton speaking with the media during the Singapore Grand Prix - Photo: RacePictures.

FIA Singapore GP verdict on Hamilton leaves ex-F1 champion surprised

22:04, 06 Oct

bySamson Ero

Jenson Button has reacted with surprise to the penalty Lewis Hamilton was handed at the Singapore Grand Prix following his track limits violations.

“Honestly, I’m amazed. Five seconds?”

- Jenson Button

Hamilton, who was on a two-stop strategy during the race at the Marina Bay Circuit, witnessed his brakes go up in smoke – quite literally – in the final stages. The Scuderia Ferrari driver was forced to cut several corners prior to taking the chequered flag as he struggled to brake and was handed a five-second penalty for track limits infringement.

Sharing his thoughts after the race stewards’ decision on Hamilton was announced, Button said,

“Honestly, I’m amazed. Five seconds? Doesn’t sound like a lot for the number of apexes that… the number of corners he didn’t go around.”

Lewis Hamilton driving during the Singapore Grand Prix - Photo: Race Pictures

When asked if he had ever experienced such an issue during his racing career, the 2009 Formula 1 World Champion continued:

“No, not in a race. I had it in testing about 23 years ago, but not in a race. Normally, you feel it as well, and the team know that they’re getting a bit hot.”

While Button was surprised by the verdict and Hamilton’s brake issues at the Singapore Grand Prix, fellow driver Fernando Alonso was left furious with the repeated corner-cutting the Ferrari driver resorted to.

Alonso furious with Hamilton’s driving

The Aston Martin driver took to his team radio to launch into a tirade after witnessing Hamilton continuously cutting corners as he battled his brake problems. The two-time world champion erupted over the radio, with his race engineer attempting to calm him down during their post-race interaction.

Alonso would finish the Grand Prix in eighth place but was subsequently promoted a position higher after Hamilton was handed a five-second penalty.

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