Lewis Hamilton will start Sunday`s Monaco Grand Prix from the seventh position on the grid. This follows a three-place penalty imposed for obstructing Max Verstappen during Saturday`s qualifying session.
Stewards ruled that Hamilton hindered Verstappen during the Q1 segment at the circuit`s Massenet corner. The incident occurred because Hamilton`s Mercedes race engineer provided him with inaccurate information.
The seven-time world champion was mistakenly informed that Verstappen, who was approaching him in the first sector, was on a slow lap. Consequently, Hamilton began to move back towards the racing line and accelerate just as the Red Bull car neared.
As a result of the penalty, Verstappen moves up to fourth on the grid. Isack Hadjar and Fernando Alonso also benefit, each gaining one position.
While the stewards acknowledged that the incorrect radio communication was the reason for the obstruction, they stated when imposing the penalty that the circumstances did not constitute a mitigating factor.
Speaking about the incident before the penalty was confirmed, Hamilton said: “I believed I was keeping clear of others, but then the team informed me Max was on a fast lap, so I moved left. Immediately after, they corrected themselves, saying he wasn`t on a fast lap. I was just getting back on the throttle and accelerated for about 10 meters. I was off the main line, but it definitely caused a distraction for him.”
Following the session, Verstappen discussed the incident with Hamilton and seemed understanding, although he still felt a penalty was appropriate. He commented: “Seeing a car blocking you at high speed isn`t pleasant. I saw his team told him I was driving slowly when I was clearly on a fast lap, so it`s not Lewis`s fault in that sense. I spoke to Lewis quickly about it – it`s a straightforward situation, but it shouldn`t happen. It`s the team`s error. Historically, yes, there should be a penalty for this kind of thing, even if it`s primarily the team`s mistake. Stewards are usually quite strict on impeding during qualifying.”
Monaco GP Qualifying: Updated top 10
1) Lando Norris, McLaren
2) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
3) Oscar Piastri, McLaren
4) Max Verstappen, Red Bull
5) Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls
6) Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
7) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
8) Esteban Ocon, Haas
9) Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
10) Alex Albon, Williams
The Stewards` Decision in Full
The stewards reviewed evidence including telemetry, team radio, video, and heard from Lewis Hamilton (Car 44), Max Verstappen (Car 1), and team representatives.
Car 44 (Hamilton) was on a slow lap and off-line near Turn 2. Car 1 (Verstappen) was approaching on a fast lap.
Hamilton`s team initially told him Verstappen was on a fast lap, then incorrectly stated Verstappen was `slowing down`. Verstappen was, in fact, on a continuous push lap.
Due to this misinformation, Car 44 accelerated and moved onto the racing line at Turn 3. Car 1 had to take evasive action, moving off the standard line and abandoning the lap.
Analysis of Car 1`s previous laps confirmed that Car 44 moved onto Verstappen`s usual racing line, conclusively proving the obstruction.
Hamilton immediately voiced his frustration with his team`s incorrect communication after the incident.
Hamilton accepted during the hearing that his team`s erroneous message caused the incident.
Following precedent in similar cases where inaccurate team information led to impeding, the stewards ruled that the radio message being the cause was not a mitigating factor. Consequently, the standard three-grid place penalty was applied.
