Lewis Hamilton’s Hungarian Grand Prix penalty pushed the seven‑time champion from fourth to fifth place after a 5‑second time penalty for an 80.1 km/h pit‑lane speed, 0.1 km/h above the limit.
Small margin, big consequence
Hamilton pitted for the third time as a virtual safety car rattled the field, upsetting teammate Charles Leclerc and chasing on‑pole rally star Kimi Antonelli. The pit‑lane engagement produced a speed reading of 80.1 km/h, triggering a five‑second penalty that eroded the Briton’s chance of a podium finish.
Fans split over fairness
Online commentary split into two camps. One thread applauded the stewards’ decision, noting “0.1 gets you the same penalty as taking out the race leader.” Another argued for harsher sanctions elsewhere, specifically calling for a stop‑go penalty and four points for Carlos Sainz after his collision with Oscar Piastri cost the Australian the lead and forced a retirement via gearbox failure.
Reactions from drivers
Hamilton admitted, in post‑race remarks, that his race effectively ended the instant he entered the pits, while a supporter suggested that the British driver may have been better off avoiding a VSC pit stop, citing the impossibility of retaking the lead on worn soft tyres.
Photo by: Alastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images
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