P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur has delivered a stern criticism of the race management at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, after what felt was a “very harsh” penalty handed to Lewis Hamilton.
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur criticized the FIA stewards for the handling of the Mexico City Grand Prix, citing Lewis Hamilton’s “very harsh” penalty while others were not penalized.
Hamilton received a 10-second time penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage during a battle with Verstappen, even though he was investigated and cleared for other incidents.
Vasseur expressed frustration over the penalty’s impact on their race position, noting that Hamilton’s penalty seemed disproportionate given the circumstances.
The team felt the penalty was excessive, especially considering the nature of the incident and how it affected their race strategy.
Vasseur mentioned the broader context of the race and argued that the penalty affected their ability to recover positions after the pit stop.
In the post-race press conference, Vasseur questioned the consistency and management of penalties, emphasizing the impact it had on Ferrari’s race outcome.
Ultimately, Vasseur and Ferrari believed that the 10-second penalty imposed on Hamilton was not in line with the severity of the offense, leading to a significant setback in their race performance.
