Lewis Hamilton has urged the FIA to take action and introduce reforms to its penalty and race review procedures following a string of controversial moments during the 2025 Mexico City Grand Prix. The Ferrari driver left Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez frustrated after a series of inconsistent stewarding calls appeared to shape the outcome of his race, ultimately costing him a potential podium finish.
The controversy began at the opening corner when both Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc went off track and cut across the grass, emerging ahead despite leaving the circuit. Hamilton, who chose to remain on the asphalt and respect track limits, found himself at a disadvantage and lost ground. Despite this, neither Max Verstappen nor Charles Leclerc received any form of penalty from the race stewards.
Moments later, the Dutchman again ran wide at Turn 2 during a close fight with Lewis Hamilton. According to the FIA’s own regulations, the Dutch driver should have relinquished the position to cancel out any “lasting advantage.” Yet once again, the stewards opted not to intervene. The situation escalated further when Lewis Hamilton was forced off at Turn 4 and cut across the grass to rejoin the track, emerging two seconds ahead of Max Verstappen. This time, however, the penalty was swift — Lewis Hamilton received a 10-second time penalty for gaining an advantage, a decision that many within the paddock saw as inconsistent and harsh.
The sanction effectively ended any hope Lewis Hamilton had of claiming Ferrari’s first podium in several races. Despite starting third on the grid and displaying strong race pace throughout the opening laps, the British driver had to settle for eighth place after the penalty was applied.
After the race, the Briton expressed deep concern about what he described as a lack of consistency and transparency in how the FIA applies its rules. He suggested that the governing body’s decision-making process remains too secretive, with limited accountability when penalties appear unclear or contradictory.
The seven-time Formula 1 world champion noted that the lack of clarity surrounding stewarding decisions is one of Formula 1’s most pressing governance issues. He reportedly stated that the FIA must “take a hard look at its internal processes,” emphasizing that decisions made behind closed doors can directly impact drivers’ reputations, careers, and even championship outcomes. According to Hamilton, such decisions can “steer” the trajectory of a driver’s season and alter the course of the title race — something the sport has witnessed more than once in recent years.
The Ferrari driver also highlighted that this is not merely an isolated case but part of a wider pattern that has frustrated both teams and drivers across the grid. He believes a more open and structured communication system between the FIA, teams, and fans could restore trust and improve the sport’s credibility. Many within the paddock share Hamilton’s view that Formula 1 needs a fairer and more transparent stewarding process, especially as the battle for the 2025 championship grows ever tighter.
Lewis Hamilton’s remarks have reignited the long-running debate about how Formula 1’s governing body handles on-track incidents, particularly when similar situations lead to drastically different penalties. As the season moves toward its final rounds, all eyes will be on the FIA to see whether it will respond to growing pressure from one of the sport’s most experienced and respected champions.
With tension building between teams and officials over race control decisions, the Ferrari driver’s call for reform could mark the beginning of a broader push for accountability and consistency within Formula 1’s rule enforcement system — a topic likely to dominate conversations well beyond the end of the 2025 F1 campaign.
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