Hamilton rues ‘severe’ penalty but accepts responsibility

Lewis Hamilton took the e x t r a o r d i n a r y s t e p o f d e man d i n g a n ex p l a n a - t i o n f r o m t h e s t e wa r d s midway through yesterd ay ’s I t a l i a n Gr a n d P r i x after he was served a penalty which paved the way for Pierre Gasly to complete one of the most surprising victories in motor racing’s recent history.

Hamilton, who finished s e ve n t h , h a d l o o k e d o n course to race to his sixth win of the year after establ i s h i n g a c o m m a n d i n g 11-second lead with just 20 of 53 laps on the board. But the world champion and h i s a l l - c o n q u e r i n g Mer - cedes team performed an uncharacteristic error.

With Kevin Magnussen’s stricken Haas car parked up in a dangerous position, and the Safety Car subse - quently deployed, Hamilton missed two red crosses to inform him that the pit lane was closed.

Hamilton and the Mercedes pit wall had 12 seconds to react to the order but failed to do so. The Briton dived in for fresh tyres and his fate was sealed.

The stewards hit Hami l t o n w i t h a t e n - s e c o n d s t o p - a n d - g o p e n a l t y f o r the infringement, ending his hopes of victory.

Charles Leclerc’s 180mph crash at the menacing Parabolica then led to a redflag period – and a frustrated Hamilton left his Mercedes in the pit lane, before walking up the staircase at the rear of the paddock and heading to the stewards’ office.

“I wa n t e d t o s e e wh a t had been missed because I swore there wasn’t a red l i g h t a t t h e e n t r y t o t h e pit lane,” Hamilton later explained.

“The stewards showed me the on-board video and the signs which had a cross through them. I didn’t see them because I was looking elsewhere.

“I t f e e l s s e v e r e . A s t o p - a n d - g o p e n a l - ty often comes if you have done something i n t e n t i o n a l , d r iv i n g erratically or putting someone in danger.

“I don’t know if they can make the rule b etter for the future, but I accept it and move forwards. I hold myself accountable.”