Hamilton Hit with Five-Place Grid Penalty for Monza After Yellow Flag Breach at Zandvoort
Zandvoort, Netherlands – In an unfortunate twist to a tough Dutch Grand Prix weekend, Lewis Hamilton will shoulder a five-place grid penalty at next weekend’s Italian Grand Prix in Monza. The sanction stems from Hamilton’s failure to slow sufficiently under double yellow flags observed before the Dutch GP began.
The Infraction & Stewards’ Assessment
The stewards’ investigation revealed that Hamilton didn’t comply with the mandatory requirement to “reduce speed significantly” when passing through a double-waved yellow flag sector located just before the pit-lane entrance.
Telemetry findings indicated Hamilton was only ~20 km/h slower than in similar practice runs, marginally reduced throttle by 10–20%, and braked just 70 meters earlier than normal at the pit entry. Normally, such breaches result in a 10-place grid drop. However, the stewards acknowledged Hamilton’s attempt to slow as a mitigating factor, imposing a reduced five-place penalty with two penalty points on his super licence.
Penalty Context & Potential Impact
This decision adds to a rough campaign for Hamilton, who also crashed out of the Dutch GP—his first non-finish since joining Ferrari—continuing a winless streak now spanning 15 races. The penalty ensures Hamilton cannot start higher than P6 at Monza, intensifying the challenge at Ferrari’s home race.
Final Thoughts
Lewis Hamilton’s weekend at Zandvoort was derailed by both on-track misfortune and procedural misstep. As he prepares for Monza, the grid drop injects added pressure just as Ferrari seeks a boost. With the Italian GP looming, Hamilton must now overcome both speed deficits and starting position challenges to salvage momentum.
