Hamilton admits fault for the penalty: “That’s how you lose World Championships. But we shouldn’t have made the last stop”

Ferrari disappointing in the Hungarian GP

Ferrari disappoints in Budapest and goes on holiday with morale declining after the excellent, surprising performances at Silverstone and Spa. On a favorable track like that, slow and with few straights, at the Hungaroring, the SF-26 was practically the only top car to suffer an overtake on track – however spectacular Max Verstappen‘s aggressive maneuver was – also taking a penalty in the race with Lewis Hamilton, sanctioned five seconds for speeding in the pit lane during the last stop. A clear error this time clearly attributable to the driver, who took responsibility while admitting he disagreed with the pit wall’s choice to stop under Virtual Safety Car conditions.

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Lewis Hamilton admits his fault

“I am absolutely convinced – explains the seven-time world champion to Sky UK microphones – that we should not have made that last tire change, but the decision came literally just before entering the pit lane and I didn’t have time to discuss it. When a decision is made on the pit wall, sometimes you have to trust the decision made but, in hindsight, my tires were still fine. I probably would have lost ground to Verstappen, but I think I could have at least maintained third place (staying ahead of Kimi Antonelli, ed.). And then, yes, obviously this pit-stop paved the way for the penalty I received in the end”.

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Regarding the penalty, however, Lewis Hamilton admits the error: “I am enormously grateful to the team because they have done a really excellent job in this first half of the season and I think the last three races for me have not been the best. There have been many errors, the one at Silverstone cost me dearly, and then obviously, also in the last race. So yes, many, many penalties in the last three races, but I have to work hard not to give them the opportunity to inflict more penalties on me”. “In the last three races – Lewis Hamilton then adds to Canal+ microphones – I have made mistakes that have cost me dearly. And it is these mistakes that can make you lose championships. Continuing like this, I will no longer win anything”.

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