Lewis Hamilton confronted a heavy penalty in Mexico, and Ferrari workforce principal Fréd Vasseur brazenly disagreed with the FIA’s determination. The Frenchman didn’t maintain again in his criticism of the stewards following the incident.
Ranging from third on the grid, Hamilton had a good launch within the 2025 Mexican Grand Prix, nevertheless it was not sufficient to overhaul teammate Charles Leclerc. He made slight contact with Charles Leclerc on the first nook, and some laps later, he engaged in a fierce battle with Max Verstappen. Throughout an overtaking try, Hamilton went off monitor and minimize the chicane, leading to a ten-second penalty. Frederic Vasseur thought-about the penalty extreme and too harsh for the state of affairs.
Lewis Hamilton’s damaging streak of lacking podiums with Ferrari continues, reaching a complete of twenty races and not using a top-three end. The Mexican GP was maybe the closest the seven-time world champion got here to securing his first podium of the season, solely to see his effort nullified by the penalty after the duel with Max Verstappen. With simply 4 races remaining, Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari are desperate to salvage some optimistic leads to what has been a particularly difficult season.
Vasseur’s anger over Hamilton’s penalty
Frederic Vasseur commented on the penalty, saying: “I feel the penalty for Lewis is extreme. We can’t contest it as a result of he didn’t comply with the directions, however ten seconds is mostly a lot. He misplaced 4 or 5 positions due to this, it’s a enormous punishment. The penalty itself is comprehensible—he didn’t comply with the race director’s steerage—however ten seconds, I can’t recall anybody ever receiving ten seconds. Wanting on the general image, Max minimize the nook earlier than, he minimize the chicane on the grass for about 100 meters. You [the stewards] have to know what you might be doing. This in all probability price us fourth place; even with 5 seconds we’d nonetheless have completed fourth. However ten seconds…”
These statements had been made by the Ferrari workforce principal in an interview with Sky Sport F1 after the Mexican GP. Ferrari couldn’t do something to overturn Hamilton’s penalty for the reason that seven-time world champion had certainly not adhered to FIA pointers. Nevertheless, the ten-second penalty was what pissed off the workforce, because it appeared disproportionate to the infraction dedicated by the British driver.
Ferrari’s strategic selections and weekend efficiency
Relating to Charles Leclerc, Frederic Vasseur defined: “The plan with Charles was a one-stop technique, which was the usual method for everybody initially. When a number of the drivers behind began pitting, they influenced one another. We didn’t change our plan. In the long run, Charles managed the race very effectively and secured an amazing end result.”
Total, the French workforce principal could be glad with Ferrari’s weekend, because the squad lastly returned to kind following a turbulent post-summer break. After Austin, Charles Leclerc achieved his second consecutive podium, celebrating his fiftieth profession podium with Ferrari in Mexico. It is usually notable that every one seven of Ferrari’s podiums this season bear his mark. Now the workforce’s focus shifts to the Brazilian GP, the place Ferrari will intention to substantiate the progress made to date in 2025.
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