Monaco Grand Prix Qualifying Summary: Hamilton Penalized, Verstappen’s Insight
Monaco, May 27, 2023 – Lewis Hamilton’s qualifying session at the Monaco Grand Prix took an unexpected turn when an incident with Max Verstappen resulted in a three-place grid penalty. Hamilton, who initially qualified fourth, will start Sunday’s race from seventh position after impeded Verstappen in Q1.
During qualifying, Hamilton moved to the center of the track, believing Verstappen was on a slow lap based on his team’s communication. The situation unfolded as Hamilton stated, “They told me he was on a lap… then they realized he wasn’t.” The move caused Verstappen to abandon his lap, which prompted immediate action from FIA stewards.
Verstappen expressed his surprise at the penalty decision, noting the responsibility lies with the team rather than Hamilton. He commented, “It’s more a team’s fault… they normally are quite strict on these things," and confirmed he had spoken with Hamilton afterward, absolving him of individual blame.
Hamilton also reported increased confidence with the Ferrari car, following a strong performance in Imola. He remarked, “I feel much more at one with the car,” acknowledging the steep learning curve but expressing satisfaction with his recovery after a prior crash.
As the Monaco Grand Prix approaches, the dynamics of the grid have shifted significantly, setting the stage for an unpredictable race.
