The part of Hamilton’s Spa sprint penalty that should concern all F1 drivers

OPINION: It might’ve slipped down the news agenda because it occurred in Formula 1’s latest sprint race with a full grand prix to follow, but Lewis Hamilton’s penalty in Spa’s opener left many confused and angry. And it raises several questions that he and his colleagues should ask the FIA

Lewis Hamilton taking on Sergio Perez through Spa's Stavelot sequence in last Saturday's sprint race was exactly what Formula 1 wanted. Mercedes versus Red Bull once again, even as just the appetiser for the main event still to come in the 2023 Belgian Grand Prix.

That the full race turned out to be yet another lead battle snoozefest is irrelevant, albeit unfortunate and the biggest problem facing F1 right now. But at least Lando Norris, Alex Albon, Yuki Tsunoda and co in the pack produced some excellent overtakes running down the order.

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Author Alex Kalinauckas

Alex Kalinauckas is Autosport's Grand Prix Editor, covering every Formula 1 race since the start of 2020. After completing a master's degree in journalism at Goldsmiths College University of London in 2014, he worked for a range of motorsport and technology publications while covering national racing as an Autosport freelancer.

A lifelong motorsport fan - no one in his family can explain quite how or why such a development first occurred - Alex joined the Autosport staff in April 2017 as the magazine’s Assistant Editor covering Formula 2 and GP3, before being made Formula E correspondent and Autosport.com’s Plus Editor in March 2018. He lives in north-east London and is constantly frustrated by the Central Line.