The Spanish Grand Prix, which gets underway today, June 1, 2025, at 15:00 local time at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, is already making headlines following a controversial incident during yesterday’s qualifying sessions. Following a thorough investigation, the FIA ​​has handed down a penalty to Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, sparking outrage in the Formula 1 world. The seven-time world champion was given a three-place grid penalty for obstructing Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen during Q1. The decision has not only affected Hamilton’s starting position, but has also provoked a backlash from his Dutch rival, who has been vocal about his opinions.

The incident occurred when Hamilton, who was preparing for a flying lap, drove too slowly on the racing line and got in the way of Verstappen. According to the stewards, Hamilton received incorrect information from his race engineer, which led to the miscommunication. Verstappen, who was doing his warm-up lap at the time, saw his flying lap disrupted and immediately voiced his frustration over the radio. The FIA ​​ruled that Hamilton’s action gave him an unfair advantage and a disadvantage for Verstappen, resulting in the penalty. As a result, Hamilton will start from seventh place instead of the original fourth, while Verstappen moves up to P4.

Verstappen had mixed feelings after qualifying. While he acknowledged that the penalty seemed justified, he stressed that it was largely a mistake by Hamilton’s team. “If you look at history, it makes sense that there would be a penalty, but it’s more about the wrong information on his part,” he told the media. The Dutchman, who is fighting for the title in a competitive field with McLaren and Ferrari, saw the penalty as a stroke of luck, but warned that such incidents could further increase the tension in the championship. His fourth starting position gives him a solid chance of a podium finish, especially given recent rule changes around front wings that could level the playing field.

The penalty has also reignited debate over the consistency of FIA decisions. Fans and pundits point to previous incidents, such as the Hamilton-Verstappen crash at Silverstone 2021, where penalties were applied differently. Some believe the three-place grid penalty is too lenient, while others see it as an appropriate sanction given the circumstances. Opinions on social media, particularly on X, are divided, with some blaming Hamilton’s team and others calling for stricter rules to prevent such situations.

For Hamilton himself, the penalty is a disappointment, especially as he was hoping for a strong result in Spain to cement his move to Ferrari. After qualifying, he admitted that the miscommunication was playing tricks on him. “It was frustrating to be taken out of the fight because of a mistake from the team,” he said. Nevertheless, he remains optimistic and believes that with a good strategy he can still score points from P7. His teammate Charles Leclerc, who starts P2, will play a key role in the race to keep Ferrari at the front.

The Spanish Grand Prix promises to be an exciting race, partly due to the recent FIA rule change that restricts flexible front wings. Teams such as Red Bull and Ferrari will be hoping to take advantage of this, while McLaren, who have dominated so far, may lose ground. Verstappen sees the race as an opportunity to revive his title ambitions, especially after a difficult weekend in Monaco. Hamilton, despite the setback, remains a formidable competitor, and the penalty could further influence the dynamic between him and Verstappen.

With more than half of the season still to go, the championship battle remains unpredictable. Hamilton’s penalty and Verstappen’s reaction add an extra layer of tension, and fans are eagerly awaiting how this will play out on track.