Lewis Hamilton expressed strong dissatisfaction with race officials’ decision to impose a 10-second penalty on him during the Mexican Grand Prix. The penalty was a result of him gaining an advantage by leaving the track on turn four while battling with Max Verstappen.

This setback was particularly harsh for the Ferrari F1 star, who was in third place after 17 laps of the race. Hamilton did not hold back in criticizing the decision, voicing his frustration over the team radio when informed of the penalty.

Attributing the error to the track conditions at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Hamilton highlighted the low grip level, stating, “The grip there is so low.” He promptly returned to the pits to serve the penalty, rejoining the race in 14th position, significantly impacting his chances of victory.

Shortly after Hamilton’s penalty, Fernando Alonso became the third driver to retire from the Mexican Grand Prix due to a mechanical issue. Liam Lawson and Nico Hulkenberg also faced early exits due to mechanical problems.

At the time of the race, Hamilton was sixth in the Drivers’ Championship standings, trailing 202 points behind leader Oscar Piastri. His teammate Charles Leclerc held a position one spot above him, with a 50-point advantage over the seven-time Formula 1 champion.

Hamilton’s transition to Ferrari has been challenging, with no Grand Prix wins so far this season. His best finishes have been fourth places in the Italian, Austrian, British, and US GPs. Despite being out of contention for the Drivers’ Championship, Hamilton aims to finish the season strongly in the remaining races in Brazil, Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi.