Hamilton penalized three places for impeding Piastri at Hungarian Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton will start the Hungarian Grand Prix from fifth place after receiving a three-place grid penalty for impeding Oscar Piastri during Saturday's qualifying session. The stewards investigated an incident in Q3 where Hamilton, while on a fast lap, slowed and inadvertently blocked Piastri at Turn 1.

The penalty means Hamilton loses the second-place qualifying position he had secured. Charles Leclerc of Ferrari will now move up to second on the grid, with Hamilton dropping to fifth. This decision impacts the starting order for the race, altering the strategic considerations for both Ferrari and McLaren.

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Hamilton is at risk of a penalty? Yes, we told him very late and he couldn't do anything because he was already in the middle of the corner.

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur suggested the team's communication to Hamilton about Piastri's approach was too late. "Hamilton is at risk of a penalty? Yes, we told him very late and he couldn't do anything because he was already in the middle of the corner," Vasseur stated. He added that the team's strategy would not change significantly, as Leclerc would gain a position regardless.

Hamilton voiced his frustration with the penalty, explaining he had no visibility of Piastri's car. "They told me literally the moment Piastri was at the top of the corner behind me. I had no idea he was coming. I thought everyone had gone behind me and that I was the first one out of the pits. It wasn't intentional," the British driver said.

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They told me literally the moment Piastri was at the top of the corner behind me. I had no idea he was coming. I thought everyone had gone behind me and that I was the first one out of the pits. It wasn't intentional.