Hamilton repeatedly asked Ferrari about turn one penalties · RaceFans

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Lewis Hamilton asked Ferrari seven times whether any action was being taken against drivers who cut the first corner at the start – including his team mate.

Charles Leclerc was one of five drivers who missed turn two at the start of the race. He left the track behind Hamilton and Lando Norris, rejoined in front of them, but only let the McLaren driver by.

“I was ahead of Charles,” Hamilton pointed out to Ferrari as he accelerated out of turn six on the first lap. He had just moved into third place ahead of Max Verstappen, another driver who had gone off at turn one and overtaken him.

There was no discussion on Leclerc’s radio about whether he should drop behind his team mate.

Hamilton continued to ask his race engineer Ricardo Adami whether any action would be taken against other drivers who had gone off. At this point the only driver in front of him who had gone off the track at the start was his team mate.

“Max took a shortcut,” Hamilton pointed out as he began the second lap ahead of the Red Bull driver. “Loads of people gained advantage.” Three other drivers – Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Carlos Sainz Jnr and Liam Lawson – also cut the corner at the start but resumed behind Hamilton. Race control took note of the turn one incidents, which Adami related to Hamilton:

Lap: 1/71 HAM: 1’27.187

Adami
K2 off.

Hamilton
I was ahead of Charles.

Adami
Understood.

Hamilton
I’ve lost a part of my front wing as well.

Adami
Understood, taking a look. Okay, stay out.

Lap: 2/71 HAM: 1’22.793

Hamilton
Max took a shortcut. Loads of people gained advantage.

Adami
[Talking at same time] Verstappen 0.7 behind. Go into the lift-and-coast. All good, taking a look.

Lap: 3/71 HAM: 1’22.546

Hamilton
What are they doing about the cars?

Adami
Slippery track turn two.

Hamilton
What are they doing about people taking advantage at turn one?

Lap: 4/71 HAM: 1’22.781

Adami
The incident is noted, they are checking it.

Adami
We recommend 100 metres more [lift-and-coast].

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Verstappen’s team told him Hamilton ahead was having to lift-and-coast

Hamilton suffered a further frustration on lap six when he was attacked by Verstappen. The pair made contact at turn one. Verstappen then cut turn three and rejoined in front of Hamilton.

When Hamilton tried to go around the outside of Verstappen at turn four, both drivers went off, though the Ferrari driver ran further wide and rejoined ahead of his rival. Ferrari did not tell him to give the position back.

The incident did not distract Hamilton from pressing his case about what happened at turn one, and he continued to ask Adami for information:

Lap: 5/71 HAM: 1’25.860

Adami
Need to increase the lift-and-coast 100 metres.

Lap: 6/71 HAM: 1’23.138

Adami
Verstappen point seven behind.

Hamilton
Charles…

Hamilton
Verstappen hits Hamilton as he passes at turn one, then goes off at turn three, then both go off at turn four, Hamilton rejoining aheadI got pushed wide.

Adami
Copy that.

Adami
Need mode TS now, mode TS. Car behind is 2.2

Lap: 7/71 HAM: 1’23.138

Hamilton
I got hit at turn one, pushed wide.

Adami
Copy that.

Hamilton
What are they doing about people who took advantage turn one?

Lap: 8/71 HAM: 1’22.672

Adami
Nothing yet. Let’s focus on our race, keep the tractions metrics low. Turn nine is good, what you’re doing.

Lap: 10/71 HAM: 1’22.642

Adami
And tighter exit out of one for a better two and three. The rest is good. Charles lap time 22.6 and we had the first strike at turn one, track limits.

Lap: 11/71 HAM: 1’23.227

Hamilton
[Unclear] turn one.

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Hamilton was predictably unimpressed by the news the stewards had given him a 10-second time penalty for leaving the track and rejoining in front of Verstappen. He asked Adami whether any action had been taken yet against “other cars that cheated” but did not receive an answer:

Lap: 19/71 HAM: 1’23.161

Adami
We have 10 seconds penalty for the incident turn four with Verstappen. We don’t agree, but let’s keep the head down.

Lap: 20/71 HAM: 1’23.680

Hamilton
The grip there is so low.

Lap: 21/71 HAM: 1’23.135

Adami
We know, Lewis.

Hamilton
These guys are unbelievable, mate.

Adami
Copy that. Gap to Bearman behind four seconds, then do our plan B.

Lap: 22/71 HAM: 1’23.373

Hamilton
What about all the other cars that cheated?

Adami
Increase 50 metre lift and coast.

The Ferrari driver served his 10-second time penalty when he came in for what turned out to be his first pit stop. He described the penalty as “insane”, though he also incorrectly referred to it as a “10 second stop-and-go.” This is a different, much more serious penalty, which requires a driver to make a separate pit stop in which they cannot change their tyres.

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Lap: 23/71 HAM: 1’28.985

Adami
Charles lap time 23.1 Bearman behind, 23.1. Tighter exit out of one.

Hamilton
Hamilton runs wide at turn fourMy tyres are dropping off.

Adami
Copy that.

Hamilton
Got no grip.

Adami
Box Lewis box, please confirm and box.

Hamilton
Got a bit too much wing, take a bit out.

Adami
And cool it down, we’ll have 10 seconds penalty to serve.Hamilton pits and serves penalty

Lap: 24/71 HAM: 1’51.914

Adami
Launch map five. Out-lap normal. Racing Hulkenberg behind, keep your lift-and-coast.

Hamilton
Has anyone else had a penalty?

Adami
Not at the moment.

Lap: 27/71 HAM: 1’21.896

Adami
Increase the lift-and-coast into 12 for brakes.

Hamilton
That’s ridiculous, mate.

Lap: 29/71 HAM: 1’22.380

Hamilton
What position am I?

Adami
11th right now ahead, fighting for P7 end of the race.

Adami
Pace is good, good job on the tyres.

Lap: 30/71 HAM: 1’22.134

Hamilton
10 second stop-and-go is insane.

Adami
And keep up the lift and coast for brakes.

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After learning how far he had dropped down the field as a result of his penalty, Hamilton apologised to his team:

Lap: 31/71 HAM: 1’21.994

Hamilton
Where am I down to others?

Lap: 35/71 HAM: 1’23.018

Adami
Good pace.

Hamilton
Tyres don’t feel good.

Hamilton
I’m really sorry I lost you guys P3.

Adami
No worries Lewis, still a long race, good pace out there, keep pushing.

Hamilton repeated his apology when he made a second pit stop later in the race. He was the only driver to receive a penalty for failing to respect track limits:

Lap: 48/71 HAM: 1’41.158

Hamilton
Hamilton pitsSorry about that, guys. What a shit race.

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