P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Ferrari F1 driver Lewis Hamilton has been penalised ahead of the Monaco GP for impeding fellow F1 champion Max Verstappen in Q1
Ferrari Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton received a penalty before the Monaco Grand Prix for impeding fellow F1 champion Max Verstappen during qualifying. Verstappen, anticipating the penalty, acknowledged Hamilton’s innocence but felt sanctions were necessary due to past precedents. The penalty demoted Hamilton from fourth to seventh on the grid, elevating Verstappen, rookie Isack Hadjar, and veteran Fernando Alonso. Hamilton was given incorrect information by his team as he exited Ste Devote on a slow lap, leading to the incident with Verstappen. Despite differing accounts between Hamilton and the stewards regarding the racing line, it was agreed that Hamilton disrupted Verstappen’s lap and caused him to abort the effort. Verstappen, while relaxed about the impeding incident, emphasized the need for a penalty based on F1 qualifying session judgment criteria, understanding it was a team error and not Hamilton’s deliberate action. The stewards ultimately ruled that Hamilton’s movement affected Verstappen’s line, resulting in the penalty.
