Monaco Grand Prix: Hamilton Penalized After Qualifying Incident with Verstappen
Lewis Hamilton faces a three-place grid penalty for the Monaco Grand Prix following a collision in qualifying with Max Verstappen. The incident, which occurred during Q1, saw Hamilton block Verstappen as he attempted to set a fast lap. As a result, Hamilton, who initially qualified fourth, will start the race in seventh position.
Hamilton explained the miscommunication that led to the incident: “I was told Max was on a lap and then they realized he wasn’t. I moved to the side and tried to accelerate again, but it was distracting for Max.” Verstappen subsequently abandoned his lap after the obstruction.
Following the session, both drivers were summoned by FIA race stewards. Verstappen expressed his expectation of a penalty for Hamilton but indicated that the fault lay primarily with the teams for the miscommunication.
“It’s not Lewis’ fault,” Verstappen stated. “It was more a team mistake, but they are strict on these things during qualifying.”
Hamilton, reflecting on the incident, noted a positive trend in his performance: “I definitely feel more at one with the car. This weekend has been a quick, steep learning curve, but I was happy with my recovery from the crash.”
As the race day approaches, the focus shifts to how the grid penalty will impact Hamilton’s strategy and if he can overcome the setback to contend for points in Monaco.
