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MEXICO GP CONTROVERSY: LEWIS HAMILTON CRITICIZES PENALTY, VERSTAPPEN REMAINS UNMOVED

Lewis Hamilton was hit with a 10-second penalty in Mexico, costing him a podium and sparking his "double standards" claim after Max Verstappen escaped punishment for a similar off-track move earlier in the race.

Mexico GP controversy: Lewis Hamilton criticizes penalty, Verstappen remains unmoved
Hamilton fumes as Verstappen shrugs off Mexico penalty - Photo Credit: PA Media

Verstappen dismisses Lewis Hamilton's criticism of "double standards" in the Mexico penalty, saying, "Same for everyone."

Mexico City was seething when Lewis Hamilton left. For leaving the track and maintaining position during the early altercation with Max Verstappen, the Ferrari driver received a 10-second time penalty, which he called "double standards." What did Verstappen say? A shrug. "That is racing. For everyone, it is the same.

At the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, when Turn 1 became the typical sliding problem, there was a clumsy opening before the flashpoint. The bunch worked itself out with little fuss and no early penalties after Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc, Hamilton, and Verstappen all crowded in. Leclerc and Verstappen then took to the escape road and rejoined.

The actual altercation started after six laps. Verstappen sped into Turn 1 down Hamilton's inside. The Red Bull skipped across the grass at the chicane and returned ahead of them as they ran side by side. After trying the long route, locking the front-right, and straight-lining it himself, Hamilton countered into Turn 4, cutting the grass and rejoining just ahead of Verstappen.

The stewards concluded that Hamilton had gained a permanent advantage by leaving the circuit. What would have been a well-earned podium was destroyed by the 10-second penalty that was imposed following the yellow, dropping him to eighth place.

"It is been really annoying," Hamilton admitted to DAZN. "I started well; I kept on course and got up to second in Turns 1, 2, and 3, but I ended up in third place for some reason, and no one was penalised for cutting the track there. Max cut Turn 3 as well, but nothing occurred.

When I left, I had to drive through the grass since my tyres were so filthy that I would not be able to turn the corner. In the end, I received a 10-second [penalty] after asking on the radio if I needed to let anyone through for gaining an advantage. It is what it is.

Hamilton continued, accusing the ruling of "double standards" and stating that he felt "let down by the governing body."

A further twist that would have delayed the process of giving the slot back right away was that Oliver Bearman, a rookie for Haas, managed to get by Verstappen in the confusion. Any give-back would have essentially resulted in the surrender of two spots rather than one. This is a subtlety that teams and drivers usually consider at the time, and it can quickly become expensive if Race Control does not provide clear, real-time instructions.

For his part, Verstappen saw no inconsistency or collusion. He said to DAZN, "That is racing." It is what we are able to do while adhering to the rules. We are permitted to do so by the stewards. Since I have experienced it myself, why should I not be permitted to do the same? For everyone, it is the same.

This was Mexico's microcosmic tightrope. The escape lanes entice cars to play the dice and figure things out later, while the opening complex welcomes optimism and elbows. Although the law's letter is straightforward—if you leave the track and obtain a permanent advantage, you are in trouble—enforcing it in practice is still a murky area that contributes to weekends like this one. Teams may or may not be instructed to return it right away, and the hammer may or may not drop following the cool-down lap.

It makes sense that Hamilton is frustrated. Seeing others use the escape route with no apparent repercussions made him feel as though he had played fairly in the first altercation. He was then penalised with interest and lost a podium after his own lock-up forced him to grass-track. Verstappen's perspective is as clear: push the boundaries if it is there, and accept any sanctions as a necessary part of the game.

This will be felt by Ferrari. Even if the rules support it, the optics of dropping five spots due to a post-race time drop never sit well. Hamilton had the pace to make the afternoon less attritional. Although it is not crucial on its own, every point counts now, and Red Bull leaves with a little more momentum and Verstappen a little closer in the race for the championship.

The larger dilemma remains: should we continue to allow the stewards to call balls and strikes after the fact, or should Race Control referee every skirmish live with quick swaps? For years, drivers have made it plain that they appreciate transparency, even if they do not always agree with the response. When the walls shut in at Turn 1, Mexico provided yet another example of why that clarity still seems elusive.

KIM KARDASHIAN AND LEWIS HAMILTON SPOTTED ON ROMANTIC EUROPEAN TOUR TOGETHER

Kim Kardashian and F1 star Lewis Hamilton are turning heads across Europe as insiders reveal Kim's "Russell Wilson" nickname.

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Kim and Lewis Hamilton spark a fly in London and Paris sightings

Kim Kardashian and Lewis Hamilton are the latest celebrity duo making waves, and apparently, Kim’s already got a cheeky nickname for him. The two have been spotted out together in the Cotswolds, London, and Paris, just enjoying themselves and turning a few heads in the process.

Word is, Kim’s close friends are spilling a few details about this new romance. One insider claims Lewis isn’t looking to settle down right now, but Kim still has a special name for him—she calls him “her Russell Wilson”. If you know the reference, it’s a nod to NFL star Russell Wilson, who married singer Ciara after her high-profile breakup with rapper Future. Friends say Kim thinks of Lewis as a “sophisticated upgrade” from her ex, Kanye West.

Kim and Kanye—now legally known as Ye—were married from 2014 to 2021 and share four kids. Their co-parenting relationship is famously complicated.

Kim’s reportedly a bit anxious about how Kanye will react to her new thing with Lewis, considering Kanye and Lewis were friends back in the day. One source told the Mail, “They’re both cautious about Kanye’s feelings since he and Lewis go way back. Kim’s living for herself these days, but she doesn’t want to poke the bear. They know this could set Kanye off, so they’re keeping it light and just having fun for now.”

Kim and Lewis first crossed paths years ago at GQ’s 2014 Men of the Year Awards. Back then, they both showed up with their now-exes—Kim was with Ye, and Lewis was with Nicole Scherzinger.

Kanye even had Lewis over for Easter one year. He talked about it: “Lewis Hamilton’s over at my house, and we’re playing some music in my studio. We’re having Easter brunch—my wife’s family, my friends, everyone’s there. And everybody’s like, ‘What is this music?’ and I’m like, ‘It’s Lewis Hamilton’s music.’”

Since splitting from Ye, Kim’s dated Pete Davidson and moved on. Kanye’s remarried, too—this time to Australian architect Bianca Censori.

Those two have been in the headlines a lot, usually for their wild fashion choices. Things got especially wild when Bianca showed up at the Grammy Awards in a see-through gown. She arrived in a black fur coat but ditched it to reveal a sheer dress that left little to the imagination. People at the event were definitely stunned.

FERRARI SF-26 COMPLETES 121 LAPS IN HISTORIC LEWIS HAMILTON-LECLERC BARCELONA DEBUT

Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc completed a "productive" 121-lap debut for the Ferrari SF-26 during 2026 testing in Barcelona.

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Lewis Hamilton delivers first verdict on Ferrari SF-26 after "challenging" rain

Ferrari kicked off its on-track work for the 2026 Formula One season with a steady first day at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc split driving duties in the team’s bold new car, and the whole thing felt like the start of a new chapter.

With the 2026 rules shaking up both the chassis and the power unit, Ferrari didn’t chase lap times. They zeroed in on checking systems, making sure their data lined up, and ironing out any reliability kinks. The weather threw a few curveballs—rain, some dry patches—but even so, they got through their plan and stacked up plenty of laps.

Leclerc seemed upbeat after his first taste of the new machine. He said it felt good to get back behind the wheel and start figuring out the car, even if the focus was just on systems and not raw speed. “We came here to understand how everything works,” he said. “With the weather mixed up, today was all about checks. We finished what we set out to do, and the car did what we expected. It’s a solid start and a decent base.”

Hamilton, now officially in Ferrari red, felt the same. For him, it was a busy day—lots of on-track time, plenty of new things to get used to—but he called it productive. “We got good mileage, learnt a lot, and didn’t hit any big issues. That’s what matters with so many changes coming in. This gives us a strong platform for the next few days.”

Ferrari’s Head of Track Engineering, Matteo Togninalli, stressed how important it was just to get through the day cleanly. “Given the conditions, it went well for us,” he said. Rain or not, they racked up the laps and—most importantly—avoided any real reliability problems. That’s the top priority when you’re shaking down a brand-new car and engine.

Performance talk? Still way too early for that. Right now, Ferrari’s just learning how this new car behaves, gathering data, and building up bit by bit as the days go on—keeping their focus squarely on themselves.

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