Malaysia stewards hand Hamilton and Alonso penalties

Lewis Hamilton’s “absolutely shocking” Malaysian Grand Prix weekend took a turn for the worse after the race when stewards handed him a retrospective drive-through penalty.

Hamilton was accused of making “more than one change of direction to defend a position”, and in accordance with the FIA rules had 20 seconds added to his elapsed time.

It meant the McLaren star, who had finished seventh at the end of a difficult race at the Sepang circuit, dropped to eighth, with Kamui Kobayashi in his Sauber the beneficiary as he moved up a position.

Hamilton’s problems during the race saw him hit from behind by old rival Fernando Alonso in his Ferrari as the Spaniard moved out to overtake.

Alonso, however, ran into the right-rear tyre of Hamilton’s car, partly damaging the rear floor in the process, whilst at the same time breaking the left end of his own front wing.

For causing a collision, the stewards also handed Alonso the same punishment as Hamilton, a 20-second retrospective drive-through penalty.

Unlike Hamilton, however, the penalty had no effect on his sixth- placed position in the final classification.

“I knew I was going to get a penalty. I’m not surprised,” Hamilton said.

“I was in with the stewards, so I anticipated it. I always try to assume the worst-case scenario.

“It’s only one spot, and it’s not really made me feel any worse than how the weekend has gone anyway.”

As for the fact Alonso did not lose a position, Hamilton added: “Then he’s not had a penalty.”

Asked whether it felt fair, Hamilton said: “It’s racing. I’m not going to argue or disagree with the penalty.

“From my side I’m not allowed to move more than once. Do I class it as dangerous? No, but that’s the rule. Twenty seconds is not such a bad penalty for it.

“As for Fernando, he hit me, he got a 20-second penalty, but it didn’t really do anything for him.

“It doesn’t exactly work out as a penalty, but again, that’s racing.”