The FIA must change one F1 rule ‘loophole’ after Lewis Hamilton’s ‘harsh’ Mexican GP penalty

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Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton would have thought after the opening lap of the Mexico City Grand Prix that he was finally on for his first podium with his new team.

Lewis Hamilton had successfully navigated the opening corners of the Mexico City Grand Prix and retained third place.

He even thought there might be a chance that he would be bumped up to second as Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc was one of several drivers who took to the grass to avoid a collision.

Liam Lawson’s race was ended by Carlos Sainz after they collided, with the Spaniard looking to duck inside when he appeared to be running out of room; however, every other driver avoided any serious incident.

The major talking point that ruined Hamilton’s race was the 10-second penalty he picked up while battling Max Verstappen.

The seven-time world champion was found to have left the track and gained a lasting advantage after being pushed wide at turn four.

Verstappen had pulled off an aggressive move on Hamilton a few corners earlier that went unpunished, and the FIA have to clarify these rules now to avoid any more confusion, with fans unaware as to why Hamilton was penalised but nobody else was.

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Formula 1’s leaving the track and gaining an advantage rule must change after Lewis Hamilton penalty

Verstappen took to the grass after his move on Hamilton into turn one, and then didn’t give the place back.

George Russell agreed with Hamilton when asked about the rules, as he lost out to the Dutchman and Leclerc on the opening lap.

Currently, the FIA’s guidelines are too imprecise, with many people not seeing a huge difference between how Verstappen and Hamilton dealt with cutting corners each time.

Speaking after the race, Hamilton admitted: “It was fun at the start and didn’t end up the way I had hoped, but it’s motor racing.”

He also explained why he couldn’t stay on the track following his turn four incident with Verstappen, stating: “No. It’s very dirty offline, and I did the best I could to bring the car back to the track safely, and that’s all I could hope for.”

Team principal Fred Vasseur added: “The penalty for Lewis, I think it is a bit harsh,” said Vasseur after the race.

“For sure, he didn’t keep the line until the end, but he lost the car on the grass, and it was not easy to maintain. But 10 seconds is very harsh, because this dropped us behind all the group, and we lost six or seven positions, but it is like it is.”

Vasseur was asked whether a maiden Ferrari podium could have been possible for Hamilton without the penalty and said: “It’s difficult to predict and to know, but he was in front of Bearman, and if he got five seconds, he was still in the group behind with the two Mercedes.”

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Karun Chandhok suggests Lewis Hamilton’s Mexican Grand Prix penalty was too harsh

Speaking on social media after the incident, Sky Sports F1 pundit and former driver Karun Chandhok explained: “In terms of Max versus Lewis, Max dived into the inside of the apex at turn one, and he’s kind of driving to the driving standards guidelines which really, it’s exposing another loophole like we saw in Austin last year where the drivers are racing to the apex.

“Max got there first, and then there was a bit of tit for tat in that first sector, but in the end, Verstappen gained that position.

“When they got to turn four, both drivers locked up and went straight on. Verstappen was clearly in front of the straight down to turn four. Lewis went across the grass, and the stewards let him off for that, because really, he should have gone on through the escape road.

“But, then they judged, and I think rightly, that he gained a lasting advantage because he ended up coming out in front of Verstappen and also gained some time.

“I think he also could have been given just a five-second penalty instead of 10.”

The FIA must act going forward, as fans believe a lack of consistency is occurring when it comes to handing out penalties.

For Hamilton, nothing will reverse the stewards’ decision, and he’ll have to hope he can earn his first top-three Grand Prix finish of the season at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.