Lewis Hamilton faced a challenging conclusion to the Singapore Grand Prix as he received a post-race penalty following a series of setbacks. Despite encountering a brakes failure in the final laps, Hamilton struggled to secure a seventh-place finish, barely making it across the finish line.
During the race, Hamilton, on soft tires, displayed strong performance initially. He was granted passage by his teammate Charles Leclerc, who complied with Ferrari’s instructions to let the seven-time Formula 1 champion pass and pursue Kimi Antonelli. However, as Hamilton overtook Antonelli, significant brake dust and sparks emerged from his Ferrari, indicating potential brake disc wear.
In the final laps, Hamilton had to cautiously navigate the track, allowing Leclerc to pass him. Despite Hamilton’s efforts to maintain his position, a post-race investigation resulted in a five-second time penalty for repeatedly leaving the track without valid justification. Consequently, Hamilton was demoted to eighth place in the final race standings, with Alonso moving up to seventh.
The stewards clarified their decision by highlighting Hamilton’s multiple track excursions, attributing them to managing the brake issue. However, they deemed these actions unjustifiable, leading to the imposed penalty. The ruling pleased Alonso, who vocally expressed his frustration over finishing behind Hamilton, questioning the safety of driving without brakes and criticizing the race officials’ handling of the situation.
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