Poor Communication Hands Hamilton Three-Place Grid Penalty: Lewis Breaks Silence

Last Updated:May 25, 2025, 09:52 IST

Lewis Hamilton admits difficulty avoiding others in Monaco qualifying, leading to a penalty for impeding Max Verstappen.

Lewis Hamilton has been handed a three-place grid penalty (Picture credit: AP)

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has said that it is very tough to keep out of everybody’s way while qualifying for the race on the narrow streets of Monaco, admitting that a mistaken message from the Ferrari paddock handed him a three-place grid penalty for impeding Max Verstappen.

Hamilton was still not on Charles Leclerc’s level as the local lad still had the edge, but the gap wasn’t as big as it had been at certain races this year.

Hamilton looked to explain his side of the story and how he ended up impeding Verstappen, which landed him a penalty.

“Qualifying is so much fun around here. Very difficult to keep out of the way of everybody. I think I was doing a good job of staying out of the way of everyone, but then the team said Max was on a fast lap, so I was to the left, then they said, ‘No, he’s not on a fast lap," Hamilton said after the qualifying session.

“I was just about to get back on power. I accelerated for 10 metres. I was off the line but for sure distracting him," Hamilton added.

Lando Norris’ McLaren team-mate and championship leader, Oscar Piastri, was third ahead of Hamilton in the second Ferrari.

The seven-time world champion, though, was later hit with a three-place grid penalty for impeding Verstappen.

As a result, Red Bull’s four-time champion moved up a place to fourth, with brilliant rookie Isack Hadjar of RB and Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin on the third row, ahead of Hamilton.

Norris agreed that his mentality had been a key part of his success after admitting to self-doubts in recent weeks.

“Honestly, that’s the tricky part, and to consistently find a lap time because you know it’s what the others are going to be doing and improving more and more," Norris said.

“You’ve got to take a similar amount of risks, but when you get to Q3, the final lap is just about who can risk a little bit more and commit a little bit more," Norris added.

The Englishman grabbed pole on Saturday, with Leclerc and Piastri on second and third.

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News sports Poor Communication Hands Hamilton Three-Place Grid Penalty: Lewis Breaks Silence