Hamilton 10-second penalty at Mexico City race sparks runoff debate

Lewis Hamilton was handed a 10‑second time penalty after the Mexico City Grand Prix on Sunday following a wheel‑to‑wheel battle with Max Verstappen, a decision that cost the Ferrari driver a podium and reignited debate over stewarding and on‑track runoffs at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. The stewards ruled Hamilton left the circuit at Turn 4 and gained a lasting advantage when he rejoined, dropping him from third on the road to eighth at the finish.

Race officials said Hamilton locked his front right into Turn 4 on lap six, carried too much speed to follow the prescribed escape route and rejoined ahead of Verstappen without giving the position back. The standard penalty for leaving the track and retaining a lasting advantage was applied. Earlier in the race a chaotic four‑wide approach to Turn 1 forced several drivers, including Verstappen and Charles Leclerc, onto the runoff areas; the stewards did not take action over those incidents and later judged the contact between Verstappen and Hamilton on lap six a racing incident.

Hamilton expressed sharp frustration after the race. "Ultimately, I feel very let down by the governing body. It's double standards," he said, arguing...