Lewis Hamilton Hit with Deleted Lap by FIA at Ja…read more
Suzuka, Japan – Seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton facll setback during the Japanese Grand Prix weekend after the FIA deleted one of his flying laps due to a track limits violation. The infringement occurred during qualifying, where Hamilton appeared to be pushing hard to extract performance from his Mercedes, but his efforts were ultimately ruled out by race stewards.
The deleted lap, which would have potentially placed him higher on the grid, was invalidated after Hamilton exceeded track limits at Turn 9. The FIA has been enforcing track limits strictly this season, with several drivers receiving similar penalties throughout the year.
“It’s frustrating,” Hamilton said post-session. “We were trying to find every bit of pace, but the margins are so fine. One wheel over and that’s it.”
The deleted time left Hamilton starting further back than expected, complicating his strategy for Sunday’s race. However, the Brit remains optimistic, citing Mercedes’ improved race pace and tire management as key advantages.
Team Principal Toto Wolff acknowledged the incident but defended Hamilton’s aggressive approach. “You need to push the limits to be competitive. Unfortunately, we just overstepped today,” Wolff commented.
Hamilton now faces a challenging race from midfield, aiming to claw back positions in what promises to be a competitive and strategic Grand Prix at Suzuka.
