Lewis Hamilton criticises FIA stewards following latest penalties
Lewis Hamilton has openly criticised the FIA stewards after accruing his fourth penalty in just three races, expressing frustration over what he perceives as excessive officiating, reports BritPanorama.
The Ferrari driver received two penalties during the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend and conveyed his discontent over team radio, stating that the stewards were “handing out penalties like crazy.” Following a fifth-place finish, Hamilton now finds himself 50 points behind title rival Kimi Antonelli as the season approaches its summer break.
Reflecting on the string of penalties, the seven-time world champion remarked, “Silverstone was my fault at the start. At the last race, even the driver I collided with said it was a racing incident, and they gave me a penalty. That was not needed. And that’s cost me a lot of points.” While he accepted responsibility for some incidents, he maintains that not all penalties have been justified.
Hamilton also pointed out a critical team decision that led to him pitting for a third time during a late virtual safety car, which caused him to lose his second-place position. He found himself overtaken by both Max Verstappen and Antonelli before incurring a five-second penalty for speeding in the pits.
“Yesterday was unfortunate. I take responsibility; I should have looked in my mirrors. It was a communication error,” he stated. Moreover, Hamilton expressed confusion over his team’s decision-making, saying, “Yes, I’m not really sure why we stopped at the end.” He asserted that he would have preferred to remain on track to maintain his position.
Despite the setbacks, Hamilton remains optimistic about the second half of the season. He urged his team to “keep on pushing” and noted, “From my side, the second half is usually a much stronger period for me, so I will take this time to come back stronger, fitter and better.” The season resumes in the Netherlands on August 23, where he will have another opportunity to improve his standings.
As Hamilton navigates this challenging moment in his career, his candid remarks serve as a reminder of the intensity and unpredictability inherent in Formula 1, where strategy and regulation often shape the fate of championship contenders.
