For a second Formula One race weekend in a row, Lewis has blasted the FIA race stewards as a joke. In Mexico he duelled with Max Verstappen in the early laps, but left the track, failed to follow the race director’s instructions and rejoined several seconds further down the road.
Further, he so compromised Verstapen that he lost a place to Oliver Bearman which compromised his about a third of the world champion’s race. Hamilton was given a lenient five second penalty – the tariff could have been ten – yet even arriving in Brazil, Lewis remained furious with the stewards in Mexico.
Lewis labelled the decision “bullshit” during the race, but even after having time to review the TV coverage he continued to lambast the FIA officials.
Hamilton 2 weeks on complains about Mexico stewards
Hamilton was asked if he better understood the reason for his penalty. “Not particularly,” he replied. “There isn’t any clarity, and I think that’s probably a part of the big issue. Transparency and accountability. And also kind of like the secrecy that decisions are made in the background.
“I think it’s something that definitely needs to be tackled. But it’s probably something that needs to be done in the background, I would imagine.”
There’s an irony in Hamilton’s ill considered comments given he calls for more transparency yet suggests the solution he suggests should be worked out “in the background” – behind closed doors.
Clearly furious Hamilton went on to refer obliquely to his lost title in 2021. “I don’t know if they’re aware of the weight of their decisions,” Hamilton continued. “You know, they ultimately steer careers, can decide results of championships, as you’ve seen in the past. So yeah, some work needs to be done there, I’m sure.”
Lewis silly mistake hitting Colapinto
Lewis is referring to the decision to restart the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix when he and his team believed there would more racing and had failed to prepare properly by switching his ageing tyres.
Of course again Hamilton is punching the wrong bag as in fact it was nothing to do with the stewards back in 2021, it was race director Michael Massi who had been beseeched all season to attempt to finish races – not behind the safety car – who found a way to decide the race and the title over a one lap shootout where Hamilton started ahead of his rival.
Back to Brazil where Lewis had qualified poorly and started in P13. His getaway was not particularly good and he lost places before making contact with Carlos Sainz Williams car which caused significant damage before the second corner.
Then whilst executing what should have been a regulation overtake up the main straight, Hamilton misjudged were Franco Colapinto’s car was in front of him and clipped the rear of the Alpine, wrecking his front wing.
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Hamilton rages over penalty
Hamilton fought on for a while and frantically told his engineer the car was nigh on undriveable. Then he was informed of the stewards decision which was the more lenient time penalty of five seconds. “These guys are a joke,” raged Hamilton to his engineer. “A complete joke. The car moved on me, I just touched the wing.”
Ferrari pitted Hamilton for a third time but it was merely to serve the five second penalty so it wouldn’t carry over to Las Vegas, then the team decided to retire the car. A double DNF for Ferrari saw them slide into fourth I the constructors’ championship. Put simply, Max Verstappen has score more pints than Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton this season.
Having failed to score a single point in the Sprint or the Grand Prix, Lewis reflected in the media pen this was a race weekend to forget. “It’s a shame, because I love Brazil, and also just everyone in the team, every single person in this team, they turn up every week and give it their absolute best.
“To come away with nothing, to not finish a race, the second time this year, it’s really devastating. I feel terrible for the team. I’m sorry for my part, in qualifying, putting myself in that position. We’ll get back up tomorrow and just give it another go,” Lewis said limply.
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The Ferrari dream turned nightmare
Lewis already has the all time record for the Ferrari driver having gone the longest since joining the team without a podium. His team mate has seven for the season and is 66 points ahead of his new team mate. Hamilton is now just 26 points ahead of rookie Kimi Antonelli who replaced him at Mercedes, something Toto Wolff will smile quietly to himself about.
Reflecting on the time since his fanfare arrival in Maranello, Hamilton revealed: “This [season] is a nightmare, and I’ve been living it for a while. The flip between the dream of driving for this amazing team, and then the nightmare of results that we’ve had, the ups and downs, it is challenging.
“This weekend has been disastrous and disappointing for everyone. I am trying to keep my head above water and remain positive.”
Hamilton has tickled the interest of the stewards on a number of occasions this season and its reminiscent of 2011 when he was called to explain himself to race control six times in the first seven races. In Australia Hamilton was investigated for failing to maintain ten car lengths behind the safety car, but despite the obvious transgression the matter went no further.
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Lewis record not good with the stewards
The following weekend Hamilton was disqualified from the Chinese Grand Prix because Ferrari had set the ride =height of his car too low which resulted in illegal amounts of plank wear according to the FIA scrutineers.
Next time out in Japan, Lewis was reported to the stewards in FP2 for overtaking several cars in the fast lane whilst traversing the working lane to get to the practice start area. The result a reprimand.
In Monaco Lewis was punished for impeding at turn three during qualifying and received a three place grid drop. Second practice in Austin saw him found guilty of impeding again, this time it was a reprimand.
Another grid drop was to come in Zandvoort for failing to slow twice when double yellow flags were being waved. Lewis was reported for three separate incidents during the Mexican Grand Prix and was of course awarded a ten second penalty for gaining an advantage over Max Verstappen.
He was again reprimanded in Sprint qualifying in Brazil for ignoring Marshalls waving yellow flags. All in all Lewis Hamilton has kept the stewards busy this season, yet if its war he wants – there’s only one winner.
Hamilton plays the race card again
Lewis Hamilton has attacked “older drivers” who have dared to criticise some of this seasons’s rookies. He claims he has and will continue to support the younger Formula One drivers even when his career is over.
This years crop of three completely fresh rookies has been Isack Hadjar, Kimi Antonelli and Gabriel Bortoletto who were joined by Oliver Berman and Liam Lawson contesting their first full season. Franco Colpanto joined Alpine after the first sic race weekends and each have experienced their highs and lows during the 2025 campaign.
Isack Hadjar started the year in the worst possible fashion, spinning out of the Australian Grand Prix on the way to the grid. In an interview with ORF after the race in Melbourne, Dr. Helmut Marko criticised the Racing Bull’s driver saying: “Isack Hadjar did a little bit of crying after his crash. That was a bit embarrassing.”… READ MORE
A.J. Hunt is Senior Editor at TJ13, where Andrew oversees editorial standards and contributes to the site’s Formula 1 coverage. A career journalist with experience in both print and digital sports media, Andrew trained in investigative journalism and has written for a range of European sports outlets.
At TJ13, Andrew plays a central role in shaping the site’s output, working across breaking news, analysis, and long-form features. Andrew’s responsibilities include fact-checking, refining editorial structure, and ensuring consistency in reporting across a fast-moving news cycle.
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