Lewis Hamilton was dealt a blow in the Monaco Grand Prix after FIA stewards handed the Ferrari driver a five-second time penalty for speeding in the pit lane.
Hamilton was running second and attempting to close the gap to race leader Kimi Antonelli when he pitted for fresh tyres. The stop was part of a strategy aimed at using an undercut to gain an advantage in the fight for the lead.
However, officials quickly flagged a possible breach of the pit-lane speed limit as Hamilton entered the pits. The incident was referred to the stewards, who reviewed the data before reaching a verdict.
Moments later, the FIA confirmed that Hamilton had exceeded the permitted speed and imposed a five-second time penalty. The additional time will be added to his race result at the end of the Grand Prix.
The punishment significantly dents Hamilton’s chances of challenging for victory around Monaco’s tight and unforgiving street circuit, where gaining positions on track is notoriously difficult. As a result, the penalty could prove costly in both the race outcome and the championship battle.
