P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Lewis Hamilton’s race in Mexico was ruined by an off at Turn 4 while battling Max Verstappen.
Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher defended Lewis Hamilton following the Mexico City Grand Prix incident at Turn 4, where Hamilton received a “severe” penalty. Hamilton had started in third but fell behind Max Verstappen during the race. When battling Verstappen, Hamilton locked up and went off at Turn 4, cutting across the grass. The penalty was for leaving the circuit and gaining an advantage, but Hamilton was also investigated for not following the race director’s instructions for rejoining the track correctly. Schumacher questioned the decision to force drivers to stay on a narrow, slippery asphalt path when rejoining, suggesting that asphalting more of the grass to widen the path might be a better solution. Ultimately, Schumacher felt the penalty was harsh and that the current rejoining solution at Turn 4/5 could be improved for driver safety and fairness.
