Lewis Hamilton faced a penalty at the Mexico City Grand Prix after Formula 1 stewards determined he gained an advantage by leaving the track during a battle with Max Verstappen early in the race.
Hamilton, starting in third position, found himself sandwiched between Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc while Verstappen tried to pass them on the outside.
Verstappen ended up in fourth place after going off track, with Norris leading and Leclerc following closely. Hamilton remained in the top three but later got into another intense fight with Verstappen.
The seven-time F1 champion went off track when his tires locked up, bypassing the designated exit route and rejoining the track still in third place.
Verstappen demanded a penalty for Hamilton over the radio, which was ultimately given. Hamilton received a 10-second time penalty for leaving the track and gaining an unfair advantage.
Despite Hamilton’s protest over the penalty, he served it in the pits, allowing Oliver Bearman to move up. Bearman, benefiting from a battle between Verstappen and George Russell, was running well and eventually also pitted, holding off Verstappen on different tire strategies.
The race marked a significant moment for Haas, as they were in contention for their first-ever podium finish after a decade in F1.
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