Hamilton “shocked” by “hardcore” penalty for F1 Italian GP

Lewis Hamilton has called his five-place grid penalty he received after the Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix for a yellow flag infringement “pretty hardcore” and was “really, really shocked” when he found out.

The Ferrari driver was penalised for not slowering enough under double waved yellow flags when driving reconnaissance laps ahead of the Zandvoort race. The FIA gave him a five-place grid penalty, but only when he returned home following the weekend did he find out about it. 

When asked about his frustration ahead of the Italian Grand Prix, Hamilton said: “I don’t know how the other drivers have felt about the decisions of the last race. I landed back home and then saw that I got this penalty and I was really, really shocked, to be honest. But it is what it is.

“It’s obviously not black and white. The fact is, if you look at the report, I did lift, but to their liking, not enough. That’s why they’re saying not more, but to get the penalty and get penalty points, it’s pretty hardcore.

“But I learned from it and there’s no point whinging about it. I just, I’ll move forward.”

After a difficult season with Ferrari, Hamilton is hoping he can use the support the Scuderia receives in Italy to push him up the grid. But the penalty has made that a lot harder.

“It’s going to be challenging this weekend,” he admitted. “Qualifying is already so close between us all. So just getting to Q3 is tough. Getting in the top five is very, very tough.

“And then on top of that, to then be set back five places is not great when you’re going into your first Monza GP with Ferrari. 

“But it gives me more to fight for. And I’m very motivated to make up those places regardless.”