Ferrari: Why Lewis Hamilton was penalized at the Mexican GP – FIA explains. Discover why Lewis Hamilton received a penalty at the 2025 Mexican Grand Prix.

Lewis Hamilton’s race effectively ended on lap six after a harsh penalty issued by the FIA stewards hit Ferrari’s #44. The sanction prevented him from fighting for a podium finish, and the FIA has now clarified the reasons behind the decision.

There had been potential for Hamilton to challenge for a top-three finish, but instead, he had to settle for eighth place. The Mexican Grand Prix, however, brought good news for Ferrari, as Charles Leclerc secured second place, defending his position against Max Verstappen in the closing laps. The incident that led to Hamilton’s penalty involved a duel with Max Verstappen on the sixth lap.

Drama unfolds in Mexico City

The Mexico City circuit witnessed an action-packed race filled with battles, contacts, and off-track excursions. From the very first corner, Max Verstappen showed he was willing to do anything to recover crucial championship points. The Dutch driver ran onto the grass and nearly hit the opposite wall, returning the positions he gained but provoking George Russell’s immediate call for a penalty against him.

On lap six, Verstappen attacked Lewis Hamilton at Turn 1. The two drivers made initial contact, forcing Verstappen to cut the next chicane, which allowed him to gain third place. At Turn 4, Hamilton tried to overtake his rival, but a lock-up of his front-left tire pushed him wide off the track. Hamilton also had to cut the corner, and in this instance, he did not return the position he had gained.

Hamilton’s penalty: FIA explanation

The FIA’s official statement explains the reasoning behind the penalty: “Car #44 experienced a lock-up under braking at Turn 4 and used the grass runoff to rejoin the track at Turn 5. The driver should have followed the Race Director’s instructions and the path indicated by the yellow line, but due to high speed, this was not possible. In this case, no regulation infringement occurred.”

“Subsequently, by cutting the corner, the driver gained a significant advantage, overtaking car #1 and not returning the position gained. For this reason, the standard penalty for this situation has been applied.” Lewis Hamilton should have returned the position to Max Verstappen, which is why the sanction was enforced.