Max Verstappen has given a firm response to Lewis Hamilton’s accusations of alleged “double standards” from the stewards following the penalty received by the Ferrari driver at the Mexican Grand Prix. Hamilton expressed his disappointment over the ten-second penalty that cost him a chance at the podium, while Max Verstappen defended both his own actions on track and the decisions made by the race officials.
In Mexico City, the race became heated right from the start. At the first corner, both Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc cut the track during their battle with Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton. The Red Bull driver gave back the positions he had gained, while the Ferrari driver kept his advantage over Hamilton.
On lap six, the duel reignited between Verstappen and Hamilton, as the Dutch driver tried to overtake on the inside at Turn 1. The two made contact, forcing Verstappen to cut through the remainder of the chicane, staying ahead of the British driver.
Hamilton immediately attempted to regain his position, while Verstappen appeared to lift slightly to let him through at Turn 4. However, the Ferrari driver locked up his front right tyre and went off the track, rejoining ahead of Max Verstappen without following the race director’s instructions on how to safely return to the circuit.
The stewards determined that Hamilton had left the track and gained an advantage, issuing him a ten-second penalty. This decision effectively took him out of contention for a podium finish, dropping him to eighth place, while Max Verstappen finished third behind Charles Leclerc.
Hamilton’s accusations and Max Verstappen’s response: “The rules apply to everyone in the same way”
After the race, Lewis Hamilton expressed his frustration in an interview with DAZN. He said it had been “really frustrating” to receive the penalty, explaining: “I made a good start, stayed on track through turns 1, 2, and 3, and found myself in second place, but somehow I ended up third, and nobody was penalized for cutting the track there. Even Max went off at Turn 3, and nothing happened.”
Lewis Hamilton continued: “Then I went wide, the tyres were dirty, and I had to go through the grass, otherwise I wouldn’t have made the corner. I asked on the radio if I needed to give back the position for gaining an advantage… they said no, and in the end, I got a ten-second penalty. That’s how it went.”
Speaking to DAZN, Max Verstappen responded firmly to the claims: “That’s racing. We do what we can within the regulations and what the stewards allow us to do. It has happened to me in the past too, so why shouldn’t I be able to do the same? The rules apply to everyone in the same way.”
