Revealed: the behind-the-scenes details of Lewis Hamilton’s penalty in Monaco — including what Ferrari attempted to do. Then, Hamilton’s own words.
Lewis Hamilton is still holding onto hope in Monaco. Despite the penalty — an unexpected one, especially given the severity for what appeared to be a minor case of impeding against Max Verstappen — the seven-time world champion from Maranello remains optimistic for Sunday’s race. While qualifying is typically decisive in Monte Carlo, this time, it might be just slightly less so.
In fact, following the rather dull 2024 Monaco Grand Prix — where most pit stops were completed on lap one during a red flag — the FIA has introduced a new regulation requiring two mandatory pit stops during the race. This could lead to chaotic pit strategies and increased chances of mistakes — something Hamilton is clearly counting on.
The Backstory: Hamilton’s Penalty and His Own Explanation
Now starting seventh instead of fourth after receiving a three-place grid penalty, Hamilton faces an uphill battle to recover positions. Directly ahead of him are two slower cars — Alonso and Hadjar — followed by this weekend’s top four: the two McLarens, Leclerc, and Verstappen.
Radio communication between engineer Riccardo Adami and Hamilton revealed clear confusion within the Ferrari garage regarding the penalty. Team principal Frédéric Vasseur and the Ferrari team spent hours attempting to defend their case before the FIA, presenting a specific justification: Verstappen’s car (No. 1) reportedly did not appear on their monitors, preventing the team from warning Hamilton in time to yield.
Hamilton’s Words: “I don’t know exactly what happened — there was an issue with the computer monitor. Basically, they told me Max was on a hot lap, then he disappeared and they said he wasn’t pushing anymore”.
““That’s the information they gave me: they said he was behind me, so I moved aside, but then they said he wasn’t there anymore, so I sped up again. I stayed all the way to the left, but obviously, Max still got distracted“. “.
Photo: Scuderia Ferrari HP
