During the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix qualifying session, Lewis Hamilton received a three-place grid penalty for impeding Max Verstappen. The incident occurred when Hamilton, misinformed by his Ferrari team that Verstappen was on a cooldown lap, inadvertently obstructed the Red Bull driver during a flying lap. Despite the initial frustration, Verstappen later defended Hamilton, attributing the mishap to a team communication error.
He quoted:
Max Verstappen: “When you get blocked at high speed, it’s not pleasant. I know that the team told Lewis that I was on a slow lap, although this was not the case. It was not his fault. We spoke to him, he apologised. It was a mistake by the team.
Verstappen acknowledged the miscommunication, stating that while the obstruction was unfortunate, it was not Hamilton’s fault. He emphasized that such incidents are part of the sport and that the penalty, though expected due to strict qualifying rules, was a result of the team’s mistake rather than the driver’s intent.
Hamilton, on his part, expressed regret over the incident and apologized to Verstappen. He explained that a “computer glitch” led to the erroneous information from his team, causing the unintended impeding. Hamilton’s acknowledgment of the error and his apology were well-received, with Verstappen accepting the explanation and moving past the incident.
The FIA stewards, while recognizing the team’s role in the miscommunication, maintained that drivers are ultimately responsible for being aware of their surroundings on track. Consequently, Hamilton was penalized, moving him from fourth to seventh on the starting grid.
This incident underscores the importance of clear and accurate communication between drivers and their teams, especially during critical qualifying sessions. It also highlights the camaraderie and mutual respect among drivers, as evidenced by Verstappen’s defense of Hamilton despite the competitive nature of the sport.
As the Monaco Grand Prix unfolds, both drivers will look to overcome the challenges posed by the incident and focus on delivering strong performances. The episode serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of Formula 1 and the resilience required by its competitors.