Lewis Hamilton has voiced his frustration with his Ferrari team following the Hungarian Grand Prix, where he lost points in the title race against Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli. The race saw Lando Norris secure his first victory of the season for McLaren.
Hamilton finished in fourth place on the track at the Hungaroring. However, a five-second penalty for speeding in the pit lane resulted in him being classified fifth. Max Verstappen of Red Bull secured second place, with Antonelli finishing third.
Pit stop strategy questioned
The penalty stemmed from a late pit stop under a virtual safety car. This decision provided Hamilton with fresh tyres but cost him track position to both Verstappen and Antonelli. He was unable to regain these positions, and the pit stop was also where he incurred the penalty. Hamilton expressed his dissatisfaction with the team’s strategic choices.
He described the situation as “pretty bad” and “pretty frustrating.” Hamilton stated he believed the stop should not have been taken, noting that the call came just before the pit-lane entry, leaving no time for debate. He indicated that he would not have stopped if it meant sacrificing track position, suggesting he might have held onto a higher position.
Hamilton acknowledged that Verstappen was catching him, but felt he could have secured third place ahead of Antonelli. He lamented losing a significant number of points due to the decision. Before the race, Hamilton was 45 points behind Antonelli, and this gap has now widened to 50 points as Formula One enters its summer break.
The Ferrari driver has accumulated several penalties in recent races, including incidents at Silverstone and Spa. At the Hungarian Grand Prix, he received a three-place grid drop for impeding in qualifying, in addition to the pit-lane speeding penalty during the race. He believes the annual shutdown offers a timely opportunity to reset.
Hamilton plans to work hard to return stronger, aiming to avoid further penalties. He reflected on the first half of the season, noting that the team has been at a disadvantage in terms of pace and power on the straights. He anticipates a stronger performance in the second half of the season, which he typically finds to be a more favourable period for him.
Norris celebrates victory
Meanwhile, Lando Norris celebrated his and McLaren’s first win of the year. Norris believes he is currently performing at his peak, even surpassing his form from when he won the title last season, despite Mercedes’ dominance in the initial 11 meetings.
Norris described his performance as one of his best, highlighting his ability to extract maximum performance from the car and consistently push to the limit. He noted that the team even had to ask him to ease off slightly. Despite the challenges, he feels he is doing a better job this year than last.
The British driver is 91 points behind Antonelli in the championship, with 12 races remaining. He acknowledges the significant challenge but, like Hamilton, sees much to compete for in the latter half of the season. McLaren’s recent upgrades proved effective in Hungary, contributing to his strong performance.
Norris expressed satisfaction with the car’s speed and overall performance during the race. While he admitted the car was challenging to drive at times, he prioritised its speed. He was confident in his ability to win the race, feeling that he and the car were operating at an exceptional level.
Qualifying incident and grid penalty
Prior to the race, Lewis Hamilton was issued a three-place grid penalty for impeding Oscar Piastri during qualifying at the Hungaroring. Hamilton had initially qualified second, but this penalty relegated him to fifth on the grid. This incident elevated Charles Leclerc, Kimi Antonelli, and Piastri by one position each.
The incident occurred as Piastri was attempting to improve his lap time. Hamilton, unaware of Piastri’s approach, blocked him at Turn 1, forcing Piastri to go off track and abandon his lap. Hamilton later admitted that his mind was elsewhere after completing his own lap and he was not aware of anyone approaching.
Stewards reviewed video, telemetry, team radio, and in-car video evidence. They concluded that Hamilton was travelling at a reduced speed on the racing line while Piastri was on a push lap. Hamilton explained that he had just finished a fast lap and did not receive the team’s radio message about Piastri until it was too late. He also stated that Piastri’s car was not visible in his mirrors due to his car’s positioning.
The stewards determined that Hamilton unnecessarily impeded Piastri during qualifying, leading to the three-place grid penalty. This marked Hamilton’s second penalty at the Hungaroring weekend and his fourth in the last three events. The Formula 1 season will resume with the Dutch Grand Prix from August 21-23.
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Source: theguardian.com
