Ferrari criticises "mega harsh" Lewis Hamilton penalty in F1 Belgian GP
Ferrari team boss Frederic Vasseur and driver Lewis Hamilton have criticized a five-second penalty issued during the Belgian Grand Prix. The penalty followed a collision with George Russell, which Ferrari officials argue was a racing incident.
Why it matters
High-profile disputes in Formula 1 highlight the ongoing debate regarding officiating consistency and racing regulations.
Both Lewis Hamilton and his Ferrari team boss, Frederic Vasseur, profoundly disagree with the five-second penalty he received for a collision with George Russell’s Mercedes on the opening lap of the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix.
"I think it's mega harsh," said Vasseur after the race. "If you have a look on the corner, Russell had enough space on the left-hand side, it's not that he was close to the wall.
"I think it's more a racing incident for me and this cost us a lot."
The contact eliminated Hamilton’s former team-mate from the race, but was fundamentally caused by the Mercedes power unit apparently suffering an electrical deployment issue through the first sector, causing Russell to lose position to both Ferraris on the run up the hill towards Les Combes.
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