Lewis Hamilton reacts to Austria grid penalty: It wasn't intentional

Lewis Hamilton

Hamilton reacts to Austria grid penalty: It wasn't intentional

Lewis holds his hands up.

Matthew Scott

Saturday 29 June 2019 18:41 Updated: 20:37

Lewis Hamilton accepted fault for his penalty after qualifying for the Austrian Grand Prix, after being dropped from second to fourth on the grid at the Red Bull Ring.

Hamilton was sanctioned for blocking Kimi Raikkonen in Q1, even though the Alfa Romeo man made it through the segment, and to Q3.

Reacting to the incident shortly after qualifying, and before he had been punished, Hamilton claimed not to have known that Raikkonen was approaching, although his race engineer did inform him of the Finn's position over team radio.

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And Hamilton held his hands up after learning of his fate, trying to spin his predicament into a positive.

"Totally deserved the penalty today and have no problem accepting it," he wrote on Instagram.

"Was a mistake on my behalf and I take full responsibility for it. It wasn't intentional. Anyway, tomorrow is another day and an opportunity to rise.

P5 start for @LewisHamilton tomorrow.

Here's his reaction to the penalty.#F1 #AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/ZSHGmpN2nC
— GPFans Global (@GPFansGlobal) June 29, 2019

"These things are sent to try us. We all have to push through whatever it is we are up against, whether I's right or wrong, just continue to believe in yourself!

"We have the power to overcome obstacles even when they appear too large a task. Stay on course and never give up."