Lewis Hamilton Baffled as FIA Hits Champion with Penalty a…read more
In a dramatic twist at the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton was left stunned after receiving a controversial penalty from the FIA that significantly impacted his race. The Mercedes driver, who had shown promising pace throughout the weekend, was hit with a five-second time penalty for allegedly forcing another driver off track during a heated on-track battle in the opening stages.
Hamilton, visibly frustrated in post-race interviews, said he was “baffled” by the stewards’ decision, insisting that the move was a racing incident and that there was “nowhere else to go” given the tight nature of the Suzuka circuit. “I don’t understand how I was supposed to vanish,” Hamilton stated. “I was ahead going into the corner and left enough space. It’s disappointing to be penalized for hard but fair racing.”
The penalty came as a blow to Hamilton’s hopes of clawing back points in the championship fight, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen taking full advantage of the situation to extend his lead after cruising to a dominant victory. The FIA’s verdict has reignited debate over the consistency of stewards’ decisions, with fans and pundits split on whether Hamilton’s move warranted punishment.
Team Principal Toto Wolff also weighed in, calling the penalty “harsh” and saying that the team would seek clarification from the FIA. “We support hard, fair racing. This is Formula 1, not bumper cars – incidents happen when drivers push the limits,” Wolff emphasized.
Despite the setback, Hamilton remained focused on the bigger picture. “We’ll keep pushing. There’s still a long season ahead. This one hurts, but we move forward,” he said.
With tensions rising and the title battle heating up, all eyes now turn to the next round in Shanghai, where Hamilton will be eager to bounce back and reassert himself in the championship race.
