Throughout the duration of the exhilarating Austrian Grand Prix, the airwaves crackled with the voices of drivers passionately alerting their teams about infringements of the track limits committed by their fierce competitors. Amidst this intense atmosphere, a disheartened Lewis Hamilton, a prominent figure in the race, expressed his discontent through his radio communications, vehemently declaring, “that’s not racing” and “not motorsport.”
The event saw a significant number of penalties being meted out due to the persistent violation of track limits, a topic that continued to stir up conversations even after the conclusion of the Grand Prix.
In a twist of fate, Lewis Hamilton found himself at the center of attention as he became the first driver to incur a five-second penalty during the race, owing to his recurrent transgressions of the track limits. Interestingly, before the penalty was officially imposed, Lando Norris, who trailed Hamilton closely, dutifully transmitted updates about Lewis’ breaches to his own team, emphasizing the need for fair play.
Once the penalty was enforced, Hamilton, perhaps feeling the weight of his own missteps, took it upon himself to report the transgressions of other drivers, including Norris himself. This act served as a testament to the sport’s commitment to ensuring fairness and adherence to the rules.
However, when reflecting on the race as a whole, Hamilton, acknowledging the intensity and consequences of the penalties, expressed his disappointment with the situation, reiterating his belief that such occurrences were antithetical to the essence of racing itself. His words reverberated throughout the motorsport community, sparking debates on the delicate balance between pushing the limits and maintaining the integrity of the sport.
“I think they need to probably find a new solution for this track,” Lewis said.
“A few years ago, when we didn’t have the track limit thing, the track was more enjoyable to drive.
“Now, it’s strange to be driving and have to comment on the car ahead because that’s what the team wants you to do.
“I think they did it in Austin a couple of years ago, but that’s not racing, right. It’s not motorsport.
“But as soon as [Lando] got past me, he went off like at least ten times, and so did [Sergio] Perez. Perez would go off at Turn 9 and Turn 10, and he didn’t get a penalty.
“We should be able to just go off and none of us get a penalty,” Hamilton concluded.
