Hamilton & Mercedes Demand F1 Transparency Following Mexico City Penalties
Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes are calling for greater clarity and accountability from Formula One race directors following controversial penalty decisions at the Mexico City Grand Prix. Hamilton received a 10-second time penalty for allegedly gaining a lasting advantage by leaving the track, a decision he and teammate George Russell believe highlights a lack of consistent enforcement.
Hamilton expressed his frustration with the current system, stating, “There is no clarity. I think that’s probably part of the big problem – transparency and accountability.” He emphasized the significant impact of race director decisions, adding, “I don’t know if they are aware of the weight that their decisions carry. ultimately, they control careers and can determine championship results, as you have seen in the past.”
Russell echoed Hamilton’s concerns, pointing to what he perceived as lenient treatment of drivers who similarly exceeded track limits during the race. “I was very,very surprised to see that these drivers got away without a penalty,” he said. Russell suggested a potential solution to the issue at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, stating, “Turns Two and Three only have a single racing line, so you can’t fight into Turn One and continue the fight to Turn Four,” implying a corner redesign might be necessary.
The calls for change come amidst ongoing scrutiny of race officiating. The team’s concerns center on perceived inconsistencies in applying track limit rules and the lack of clear explanation for decisions.
Separately, Hamilton addressed the £64 million legal case brought by former driver Felipe Massa, who alleges he was disadvantaged in the 2008 championship race. Hamilton stated he had “no opinion on it” and “nothing to do with it at all,” adding, “Whatever reasons Felipe has, I’m sure he has the conviction within him.”
With the São Paulo Grand Prix approaching, the F1 community is focused on whether race stewards will respond to the growing pressure for increased transparency and fairer enforcement. The upcoming race is expected to be closely watched as these issues continue to develop.
