Hamilton's 10 second penalty sparks Ferrari frustration: Should Maranello pursue a Right to Review?

 

On lap four, Lewis Hamilton was engaged in a three way battle with Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc through the opening corners. As Verstappen lunged into turn one, Hamilton was forced wide and cut across the grass at turn three re-joining the track ahead of both rivals. The stewards determined that Hamilton had gained a lasting advantage by not relinquishing the position, in breach of Article 27.3 of the Sporting Regulations.

The FIA issued a 10 second penalty post race citing that Hamilton had left the track and failed to give back the position. Article 27.3 states: “Should a driver leave the track, they must re-join without gaining a lasting advantage.” Ferrari labelled the penalty “harsh” while pundits questioned why similar incidents involving Verstappen and Leclerc earlier in the race went unpunished.

Despite the penalty, Hamilton praised retained eighth place finishing just ahead of Ocon in ninth. The result prompted criticism from fans and media, who argued that the penalty did not reverse the advantage gained undermining the intent of the regulation. Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur called the decision “not very well managed,” suggesting that consistency and proportionality were lacking.

Under Article 14.1.1 of the FIA International Sporting Code, a team may request a review if they present “significant and relevant new evidence” that was unavailable at the time of the decision. Acceptable forms of evidence include: Telemetry data, onboard camera footage, radio communications and GPS traces or comparative overlays. The evidence must materially affect the original ruling in this case, Hamilton’s 10 second penalty for gaining a lasting advantage by cutting turn three.

Ferrari had previously invoked the right to review, most notably after the 2019 Canadian Grand Prix when Sebastian Vettel was penalised for re-joining unsafely in front of Hamilton. That review was rejected as the FIA deemed the new evidence insufficient to overturn the original decision. Success in such cases depend on procedural clarity and competitive impact.

In this case, Leclerc finished seventh, directly behind Hamilton in P6 meaning the penalty did not reverse the advantage. However, with Ferrari out of the title fight and the championship focus on Norris, Piastri and Verstappen, the team may choose to preserve political capital rather than escalate a marginal call. Team Principal Fred Vasseur has hinted at frustration but stopped short of confirming a formal protest, saying: “We’ll review the data and decide if it’s worth pursuing.” 

📸 Imagery courtesy of Formula One and Autosport