Hamilton's Brazilian Grand Prix ends in fury and retirement
Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton launched a scathing attack on the sport's officials, labelling FIA stewards a 'complete joke' after a penalty-filled Brazilian Grand Prix concluded with his retirement from the race.
The Ferrari driver's difficult weekend at Interlagos reached its climax when he was forced to withdraw his damaged car, marking another devastating blow in his challenging first season with the Italian team.
Collisions and penalties derail Hamilton's race
Starting from a disappointing 13th position on the grid after a tough qualifying session, Hamilton's race began disastrously. He made contact with the Williams of Carlos Sainz - the driver he replaced at Ferrari - on the opening lap, sending him tumbling down the order.
Matters worsened when Hamilton briefly touched the rear of Franco Colapinto's Alpine car on the main straight, resulting in a broken front wing. After pitting for repairs, he found himself dead last in the running order.
The British driver continued despite significant car damage affecting his downforce, but the stewards then delivered another blow - a five-second penalty for the collision with Colapinto.
'Complete joke' radio outburst and retirement
When informed of the penalty over team radio, Hamilton didn't hold back his frustration. 'These guys are a joke - a complete joke,' the 40-year-old declared, his anger clear for all to hear.
Given his lowly position and the extensive damage to his Ferrari, including a compromised floor, Hamilton made the decision to retire from the race after serving his penalty in the pit-lane. This resulted in a double DNF for Ferrari, following Charles Leclerc's earlier withdrawal from the event.
The incident marks the second consecutive race where Hamilton has voiced his irritation with the stewards, having received a 10-second penalty after a tussle with Max Verstappen in Mexico.
Hamilton reflects on 'devastating' weekend
Reflecting on a weekend where he failed to score any points, Hamilton described it as a 'weekend to forget' while expressing his disappointment for his team.
'It's a shame, because I love Brazil, and also just everyone in the team, every single person in this team, they turn up every week and give it their absolute best,' Hamilton stated.
'To come away with nothing, to not finish a race, the second time this year, it's really devastating. I feel terrible for the team. I'm sorry for my part, in qualifying, putting myself in that position.'
The British driver remains without a podium in 21 races as a Ferrari driver and sits sixth in the world championship standings, 66 points behind teammate Charles Leclerc.
Meanwhile, Lando Norris secured victory at Interlagos, extending his lead in the championship to 24 points with just three rounds remaining in the season.
