Ferrari’s Fury: Outrage Over F1 Stewarding Chaos After Hamilton’s Shocking Penalty in Mexico!
In a dramatic turn of events at the Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix, Ferrari’s team principal Fred Vasseur unleashed a scathing critique of the inconsistency in stewarding following Lewis Hamilton’s controversial 10-second penalty. The British racing icon was battling fiercely for a podium finish when a clash with rival Max Verstappen led to a decision that left fans and teams alike questioning the integrity of the sport.
Hamilton, who was holding a solid third position at the iconic Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, found himself embroiled in a nail-biting duel with Verstappen on Lap 6. The tension peaked as Hamilton locked up at Turn 4, veering off the track and onto the grass. He managed to rejoin ahead of Verstappen, but the joy was short-lived when the stewards handed him a staggering 10-second penalty that would ultimately shatter his hopes for a top finish, leaving him to cross the line in a disappointing eighth place.
Vasseur did not hold back in expressing his frustration, pointing out the glaring discrepancies in how penalties were applied during the race. “This cost us P4… One thing is the penalty, for sure, that we didn’t follow the race director’s notes,” he lamented to reporters, including those from Motorsport Week. He further emphasized the rarity of such a heavy penalty, questioning, “I don’t remember when someone took 10 seconds.”
The Ferrari chief drew attention to the broader context of the race, citing Verstappen’s own questionable maneuvers. “If you consider, 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.” Vasseur’s remarks highlighted a growing concern over the fairness of officiating in F1, particularly in a high-stakes environment like Mexico.
He argued that while penalties are necessary, they must be proportionate and contextually aware. “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 stated, indicating that the decision to penalize Hamilton so severely was both excessive and detrimental to the race’s integrity.
The ramifications of the penalty were dire for Ferrari; Vasseur lamented that it effectively dropped Hamilton back into the pack, crippling his chances of recovery. “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…” he concluded, leaving fans to wonder just how different the race could have been without such a contentious call.
This latest incident adds fuel to the fire in the ongoing debate about the consistency of F1 stewarding, raising critical questions about fairness and accountability in the sport. With tensions running high and stakes even higher, the spotlight now turns to the governing body of Formula 1 as they face scrutiny over their decision-making processes.
As the dust settles from the Mexico GP, one thing is clear: the battle for justice on the racetrack is far from over. Will the FIA take heed of these concerns, or will the saga of controversial penalties continue to plague the sport? Only time will tell.
