Montoya questions Hamilton penalty after Mexico GP: 'controversial'
Juan Pablo Montoya has criticised the penalty handed to Lewis Hamilton at the Mexican Grand Prix, describing it as controversial.
“It would have been a double podium for them, and I don't know, that's controversial.”- Juan Pablo Montoya
The former McLaren driver, on the AS Colombia podcast, stated how the Ferrari team had a shot at finishing on the podium before stressing his belief that Max Verstappen should have also been penalised for the incident involving Hamilton.
He said, “They had a chance for a double podium if Hamilton hadn't been penalised. It would have been a double podium for them, and I don't know, that's controversial.”
“If you look at the first incident, based on how the rules are, Max took Hamilton out and forced him off the track, even though they were side by side.”
“If they were side by side, why wasn't he penalised for not sharing the track? That's a strange one, and Max had to give the position back, but he didn't do it properly," he concluded.
The Mexican Grand Prix, which witnessed a four-driver-wide start, saw Hamilton and Verstappen continue their on-track battle into the sixth lap of the race. The Red Bull Racing driver lunged at Hamilton at turn one and subsequently cut the chicane, before rejoining the track ahead of Hamilton.
The seven-time world champion looked to retake his third place; however, a lock-up saw him skid off the track. He rejoined without properly following the escape road and with an advantage over Verstappen.
Race control at the Mexico City Grand Prix noted the incident and handed Hamilton a 10-second penalty, with Verstappen receiving none.
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Brundle calls Hamilton-Verstappen incident ‘very grey’
Martin Brundle, in his analysis of the incident between Hamilton and Verstappen at the Mexican Grand Prix, dubbed it ‘very grey’.
The former F1 driver, however, sided with the stewards, stressing his belief that they made the right decision, after what he labelled as Hamilton opening the door to Verstappen’s attack.
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