FIA give reasoning for Lewis Hamilton’s time penalty at Mexico City Grand Prix
27th October 2025Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton was given a 10-second time penalty at the Mexico City Grand Prix, and the FIA Stewards have given their verdict on why he was penalised.
Feature image credit: Ferrari Media
Hamilton enjoyed his highest starting position on the grid since he joined Ferrari at the beginning of the year as the seven-time world champion started the race from third, behind both his teammate, Charles Leclerc, and McLaren pole-sitter Lando Norris.
However, in an early duel with Red Bull’s reigning world champion Max Verstappen, the Ferrari driver would only best an eighth-placed finish in Mexico City.
Hamilton locked up at turn four and had to take to the escape road. The Ferrari driver couldn’t take the escape road, as prescribed by the Race Director, and cut the grass, remaining ahead of Verstappen.
He was deemed to have left the track and gained an advantage by the stewards and was handed a 10-second time penalty for the incident, which he served in his first pit stop.
However, the stewards have given their reasoning. In their report, they said:
“Car 44 [Hamilton] locked brakes, left the track at Turn 4 and used the grass area while rejoining in the direction of Turn 5.
“As the driver was unable to follow the route prescribed by the Race Director along the ‘yellow line’ due to an excess of speed, no breach of the Race Director’s Notes is deemed to have occurred.
“However, by leaving the track and cutting the corner, the driver gained a lasting advantage, overtaking Car 1 [Verstappen] and failing to give back the position thereafter.
“The standard penalty for leaving the track and gaining a lasting advantage is therefore imposed.”
Despite the reasoning, Ferrari Team Principal, Fred Vasseur, claimed the timed penalty was ‘very harsh,’ which ultimately cost the seven-time world champion position ‘four or five positions.’ He said:
“Lewis’ penalty was very harsh as he was unable to keep on the line and had to use the grass, which cost him four or five positions.”
Read more Formula 1 here:
- Who finished where at the Mexico City Grand Prix?
- Lando Norris wins in Mexico City Grand Prix as Oscar Piastri loses championship lead
- Who will start where at the Mexico City Grand Prix?
- Lando Norris takes Mexico City Grand Prix pole as Oscar Piastri takes title blow
- Lando Norris tops final practice at Mexico City Grand Prix
- Max Verstappen tops FP2 ahead of Leclerc at Mexico City Grand Prix
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Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.
I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
Kamron Kent
Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
