P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Lewis Hamilton expected Max Verstappen to be involved in a collision when he saw a “plume of smoke” ahead of him during opening laps of the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton admitted that he assumed Max Verstappen was involved in an incident at the Mexico City Grand Prix when he saw a “plume of smoke” early in the race. Verstappen clashed twice with Lando Norris on lap 10, with Hamilton witnessing the second incident at Turn 7. Verstappen received a 10-second time penalty for gaining an advantage off-track during the clash with Norris. Despite the penalty, Verstappen finished sixth as Norris took second place. Hamilton mentioned that he has not yet seen a replay of the incident but was not surprised by Verstappen’s involvement in the drama on the track. The Briton criticized the stewards handling of Verstappen’s aggressive racing style, referencing their intense battles during the 2021 F1 season and questioning the Dutchman’s racing standards. Hamilton highlighted the grey area in racing rules that allowed Verstappen to get away with risky maneuvers for so long.
