Lewis Hamilton will serve a five-place grid penalty at Ferrari’s home Grand Prix in Monza next weekend after failing to slow under double yellow flags before the Dutch Grand Prix.
The penalty adds to a difficult weekend for Ferrari, who saw both Hamilton and Charles Leclerc crash out of the race in separate incidents, coming away from Zandvoort with zero points.
Hamilton was found to have not followed the race directors’ pre-race instructions, which required drivers to reduce speed sufficiently at pit entry to ensure safety. Although the infraction typically warrants a 10-place grid drop, the stewards recognised that Hamilton had attempted to slow down and brake earlier, reducing the sanction to five places.
It means the seven-time world champion, who is in his first season with Ferrari, will start no higher than sixth in his maiden race for the team at Monza.
Hamilton’s crash came on lap 11, when light rain led to a moment of oversteer at Turn Three. He slid into the barriers from seventh position. “I’m not really sure what happened,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live. “I couldn’t recover it.”
Leclerc, meanwhile, was taken out by Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli at the same corner. The Monegasque was left stranded on a hill until the race finished. “It ruined my race, it is a shame but it is the way it is,” he told Sky Sports, adding that Antonelli had apologised for the risky move.
Despite the double DNF, Ferrari remain second in the constructors’ standings, but Mercedes have now closed the gap to just 12 points thanks to George Russell’s fourth-place finish.
Team principal Fred Vasseur urged calm in the wake of the setback. “We have to stay calm for the remainder of the season,” he said.
Hamilton’s first year with Ferrari has been marked by inconsistency. Aside from a sprint win from pole position in China, he has struggled to find form. Before the summer break, he finished 12th in Hungary after calling himself “useless” for failing to reach Q3, and was a shock Q1 elimination in Belgium.
Vasseur, however, remains optimistic. “The reaction from Lewis was good. It was a good recovery after two tough races before the break,” he said. “I could see the confidence was back and it was good preparation [for Monza].”
Hamilton, who is sixth in the drivers’ standings, echoed the sentiment. “It was a bit twitchy, the car, but I think we made real progress and my pace was looking pretty decent,” he said.
Leclerc, who won last year’s Italian Grand Prix, is hopeful Ferrari can bounce back. “I’m looking forward to Monza,” he said. “It will be a very busy week but there will be a lot of positive energy. I think Monza will be more positive [for the car]… never say never.”
