Lewis Hamilton handed penalty as nightmare Brazilian Grand Prix worsens
Lewis Hamilton’s first Brazilian Grand Prix as a Ferrari driver has turned into a weekend to forget after the FIA confirmed that the seven-time world champion would receive a five-second time penalty for causing a collision during the opening lap of Sunday’s race at Interlagos.
The 40-year-old Briton, who has been battling to regain his top form this season after switching from Mercedes to Ferrari, endured another disappointing outing in São Paulo. His race unraveled almost immediately after the lights went out. Heading into the first lap, Hamilton made contact with Franco Colapinto’s Alpine, damaging the front wing of his SF-25 and sending debris scattering across the track. The incident forced both drivers to lose positions, but it was Hamilton who suffered the greater blow, as the collision left him with significant front-end damage that affected his pace throughout the race.
The stewards reviewed the footage and telemetry data before deciding to impose a five-second penalty on Hamilton for causing a collision. According to their report, Hamilton “failed to leave sufficient space under braking” when approaching Turn 3 and “made avoidable contact” with the rear of Colapinto’s car. The Ferrari driver later described the contact as “a racing incident” over team radio, but the FIA ruled that he was “predominantly at fault.”
The penalty added insult to injury for Hamilton, who was already struggling with poor car balance, tyre wear, and limited pace. The early damage to his front wing forced him into the pits for an unscheduled stop, dropping him to the back of the field. Despite his efforts to recover, the combination of aerodynamic issues and the time penalty ensured that he remained out of contention for points.
Hamilton’s difficult afternoon capped off a frustrating weekend that began with a disappointing qualifying performance. He could only manage 13th on the grid after struggling to generate tyre temperature during Saturday’s session — an issue that also plagued several other drivers. Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc, by contrast, managed a much stronger showing, consistently staying near the front of the pack and highlighting the gap in performance between the two cars.
The Brazilian Grand Prix was expected to offer Hamilton an opportunity to bounce back after a series of underwhelming results in recent races. However, instead of a comeback, the veteran driver endured one of his toughest weekends of the season. His frustration was clear as he told reporters afterward that “nothing went right from start to finish” and that the car “just didn’t feel alive.”
Ferrari’s team principal, Frédéric Vasseur, defended Hamilton after the race, noting that the incident was “unfortunate” but insisting that the team would continue to back their new signing. “Lewis was pushing hard at the start, trying to gain positions, and unfortunately contact happened,” Vasseur said. “These things can occur in tight battles at Turn 1 here in Brazil. The priority now is to analyze what went wrong with our setup and make sure we come back stronger in Las Vegas.”
For Hamilton, the setback at Interlagos extends a disappointing run in his debut Ferrari campaign. The Briton has yet to claim a race win this season and continues to search for the form that once made him nearly unbeatable. The combination of mechanical issues, strategic missteps, and on-track incidents has kept him from challenging for podiums on a consistent basis.
As the season moves into its final stages, Hamilton will be hoping to put the chaos of São Paulo behind him. His focus now turns to the upcoming races, where he aims to restore momentum and finish the season on a high. But for now, the Brazilian Grand Prix will serve as another harsh reminder that his Ferrari adventure has been anything but smooth.
