By Cameron Wilson
Seven-time World Championship winner Lewis Hamilton finished in fifth place at the Turkish Grand Prix after receiving a 10-place grid penalty in qualifying.
Hamilton received the penalty after a discovery that showed Mercedes to have added a new internal combustion engine, exceeding the allocation given.
However, the race did not go smoothly for Mercedes as a decision made by the team could have denied the Briton a podium finish, a position that would have been a fantastic result given the penalty.
With the race coming to a close, the choice to bring Hamilton to the pits for a chance of tyres was taken after senior race engineer, Peter Bonnington, informing the driver that the team was under threat. This decision was not one that went down well with the Englishman:
“I don’t think it is man. It feels like we should stay out.”
With the decision finally being accepted, Hamilton continued to make his viewpoint on the situation more than clear:
“Why did you give up that space? What position am I in, man?
“We shouldn’t have come in, man. I told you!”
Prior to the race, Hamilton was clear of rival Max Verstappen by two points, however the Dutchman is now six points ahead.
Although the frustration was clear to see, the Mercedes driver has been adamant that the press had blown the incident out of proportion as he made a statement on his Instagram story:
“It isn’t true to say I’m furious with my team.
“We win and we lose as a team. Don’t ever expect me to be all polite and calm on the radio when I’m racing, we are all very passionate and in the heat of the moment that passion came come out, as it does for all drivers.”
Lewis Hamilton will look forward to Austin in a few weeks’ time, as he attempts to gain points on current leader, Max Verstappen.
