In a surprising turn of events at the
As a result of the penalties, Norris and Leclerc will now occupy the front row, while McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Red Bull's Max Verstappen will fill the second row. Consequently, Hamilton will start from fifth place, and Antonelli will begin in seventh. Despite leading the championship by 45 points and boasting six Grand Prix victories, Antonelli has faced scrutiny for frequently exceeding track limits. His penalty was partly attributed to a failure to slow down adequately during a yellow flag situation when Verstappen spun out late in the qualifying session.
Ferrari's Admission of Error
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur acknowledged that the penalty imposed on Hamilton stemmed from a miscommunication on the team's part rather than a fault of the driver. Hamilton was penalized for allegedly failing to check his mirrors and inadvertently obstructing Piastri during his cooldown lap after qualifying.
Vasseur stated, "We will let the stewards decide. We told him but far too late. If there's a mistake, it's our mistake." Piastri confirmed the incident, noting, "It was just Lewis, not looking in his mirrors. The yellow flag wasn't my problem." Hamilton's penalty means he will start from fifth on the grid at the challenging Hungaroring, a circuit known for its difficulty in overtaking.
Hamilton Reflects on the Incident
Hamilton, who narrowly missed out on achieving a record-setting tenth pole position at the circuit, expressed his concerns regarding the incident during post-qualifying interviews. He explained, "My mind is just elsewhere at this second because once I finished my lap, I don't know if I got in the way of someone." He added that he was unaware of Piastri's fast lap attempt, stating, "I was told, literally, when he was at the apex behind me, so I had no idea he was coming." Hamilton emphasized that his actions were unintentional, as he believed all drivers had completed their laps before he exited the track.
