FIA can "do a better job" over "severe" penalty - Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton

1 reactie

FIA can "do a better job" over "severe" penalty - Hamilton

Six-time F1 champion feels 10-second stop-go needs reviewing

Ian Parkes

Tuesday 8 September 2020 10:05

Lewis Hamilton has called on the FIA to review the 10-second stop-go penalty he feels was "severe" during the Italian Grand Prix.

Hamilton was punished for entering the pitlane and changing tyres seconds after race control had closed it to recover Kevin Magnussen's parked-up Haas that had sustained a power unit issue.

The six-time F1 champion was at fault for failing to spot two light panels displaying a red 'x' on the outside of the Parabolica indicating the pit lane was closed, while Mercedes had not spotted a notification on the FIA's communication system.

Article continues under video

Hamilton's penalty was exacerbated by the fact that it was handed to him during a red-flag period, and he was forced to take it within two laps of the restart, pitching him to 30 seconds behind the pack.

The 35-year-old managed to claw his way from 17th to seventh by the chequered flag, while he also claimed the point for fastest lap, but on reflection, he said of the penalty that it "naturally feels severe".

Hamilton, who went to see the stewards during the 27-minute red-flag period for clarification on why he was being punished, added: "I spoke to the team and they said that this was the penalty they had agreed or something like that

"I think, ultimately, a stop-and-go penalty often would come if you have done something intentional, if you were driving dramatically and put someone in danger maybe.

"Having experienced it, and ultimately [it] almost put you out of the race 30 seconds behind the last car, it is obviously not the greatest thing for racing.

"There is obviously the other side of things where we could have had a free stop, which no one else got to do, so I do understand it."

Suggesting it is a situation the FIA could potentially review moving forward, he said: "I don't know if they can refine it, make it better for the future.

"Because you have to take it two laps after the race starts so you can't get a gap from anybody and you will always come out 30 seconds, or whatever it is, behind.

"I reckon they could do a better job, I will have to look back at it but I accept it and move forwards."

Before you go...

Was F1 given a glimpse of how a reverse-grid race could work?

Why Italian Grand Prix victory caps off Gasly's road to redemption