Hamilton takes 'full responsibility' for penalty

Beaten in Q3 by Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), Lewis Hamilton will not be able to start from the first row of the grid this Sunday in Austria after a three-place penalty imposed for hindering Kimi Räikkönen (Alfa Romeo) in Q1.

A sanction, rare for the Briton, rarely involved in this type of incident, which ultimately rejects the driver Mercedes in fourth position thanks to the other penalties (that of Kevin Magnussen (Haas), 5th but having to move back five places for a gearbox change and therefore leaving a vacant place).

The world champion showed fair play when reacting to this decision by the commissioners. “The sanction today is totally deserved and I have no problem accepting it, specifies the resident of W10 n°44 on social networks.

It was a mistake on my part and I take full responsibility for it. It was not intentional. In any case, tomorrow is another day and an opportunity to bounce back. »

Hamilton had previously given his views on the maneuver at the 3rd turn of the Red Bull Ring, which resulted in his penalty.

“I braked to try to get away, because I didn’t want us to come together in the corner. I don't think we did, but it probably put him off course. »

Fourth on the grid, Hamilton will in any case have a good opportunity to do well, being able to benefit in the first laps from the slipstream phenomenon, so important here in Austria.