HAMILTON: Crash Penalty Is Harsh

McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton believes the 10-place grid penalty he was given for crashing in the pits in Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix is too severe.

The Englishman will be moved back on the grid for the French Grand Prix on 22 June after running into the back of Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari on Sunday.

"I start 10 places back in the next race. It's a bit harsh, I didn't aim to ruin anyone's race," Hamilton said.

He also condemned as "silly" the rule that led to the accident.

Raikkonen and the BMW Sauber of eventual winner Robert Kubica were stopped at a red light at the pit lane exit when Hamilton, who had noticed the light too late, slammed into the back of the Finn.

The light was on as part of F1's safety car rules.

The idea behind the rule is to avoid potential collisions between cars already on the track, and those rejoining.

Hamilton said: "The rule is silly. We are in the race, how can you red light at the end of the pit-lane? But that's the rule and I accept it."

McLaren managing director Martin Whitmarsh added that he felt the penalty was "quite severe".

But Whitmarsh also said that the team had specifically warned Hamilton that there may be a red light at the end of the pit lane, although he did not explicitly blame his driver for the crash.

"Frankly, we gave [the warning] to him, [but] we could have given it to him earlier," he told autosport.com.

"There was quite a lot going on, obviously, as we were fuelling Lewis's car and that of his team-mate Heikki Kovalainen.

"As Nico [Rosberg] proved seconds later [when he ran into the back of Hamilton's car], it was easy to do."

Hamilton, who lost the championship lead to Kubica as a result of the incident, has insisted he will bounce back as strong as ever in France.

"This will make no difference," he said, speaking to British newspapers.

"It hasn't knocked me confidence-wise. I'm not gutted or disappointed.

"We are baffled how it came to that in the space of 30 seconds.

"I had two guys in front of me and suddenly they have stopped as I have looked at the red light. But you can't win them all. This makes me stronger.

"Going forward, the mood is strong. The fact is, we destroyed everyone [on pace].

"With the car we have right now, there is no stopping us. It is not going to take me a day to recover or anything. I am really looking forward to Magny-Cours."

SOURCE: BBC SPORT

ED: Err... no. Stupid incident = fair punishment. And that's coming from probably the biggest Hamilton fan here. And just because you don't aim to end someone's race doesn't mean you can get away scot-free either.

I think its silly to be honest, a slap on the wrist should of been what he got because i don't see how its fair Raikkonen can get away scot free from ruining Sutil's race in Monaco and 2 weeks later gets his own race ruined by hamilton.

I don't hate kimi, i just think its unfair that a 10 place drop is needed, 5 yes. 10 too far.

I think its silly to be honest, a slap on the wrist should of been what he got because i don't see how its fair Raikkonen can get away scot free from ruining Sutil's race in Monaco and 2 weeks later gets his own race ruined by hamilton.

I don't hate kimi, i just think its unfair that a 10 place drop is needed, 5 yes. 10 too far.

kipi19

But Kipi theres a difference.

Raikkonens was under race conditions, on a track with damp patches everywhere. Hamiltons was under safety car conditions, under a speed-limiter, with a red light telling him to stop.

Had Hamilton not hit Kimi, he would have violated the red light rule resulting in automatic disqualification. It would be pointless to disqualify someone already out of the race. Kimi's accident in Monaco, was not the same, it can be seen as a racing incident since many factors could come into play there, like running dry tires over a wet curb. Kinda like Vettel in Fuji last year, a racing incident, albeit caused by the stupidity of Hamilton.

I know that sounds very pro-Kimi, it probably is, but it is a valid, in my mind, way to see things. Do I at least have a point?