Formula 1 enthusiasts have closely examined the five‑second penalty handed to seven‑time champion Lewis Hamilton during the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Hamilton, who was battling championship leader Kimi‑Ramirez Antonelli for a podium finish, was penalised for exceeding the pit‑lane speed limit during his third pit stop under a virtual safety‑car. The time‑keeping system logged páginas 80.1 km/h—a mere 0.1 km/h over the permitted threshold.
Crossing the line in fourth place, Hamilton was demoted to fifth after the penalty was applied, trailing teammate Charles Leclerc.
The decision sparked a lively discussion among fans. While the majority agreed that the penalty was warranted, some argued that similar infractions by other drivers—such as Carlos Sainz’s contact with Oscar Piastri—merited harsher punishment.
Piastri, who had taken the lead earlier in the race, suffered a collision with Sainz while lestivalising back‑markers after a pit stop. The impact cost him the front‑row position and, later, a retirement due to a gearbox failure. Sainz was also imposed a five‑second penalty.
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Photo by Alastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images
