Ex-F1 driver slams Lewis Hamilton for his infamous Qatar GP track safety violation, says it was the ‘wrong thing to do’

Lewis Hamilton has received immense criticism for his actions at the Qatar GP.

Ex-F1 driver slams Lewis Hamilton for his infamous Qatar GP track safety violation, says it was the ‘wrong thing to do’

Lewis Hamilton going back to the Gargae after the Qatar GP lap one crash (Via IMAGO)

The 2023 United States Grand Prix is just around the corner, but despite this, former 7-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has been making the headlines for his infamous active track walk at the Qatar GP. Hamilton went into the gravel after colliding with his teammate and decided to cross the track when the race was active. This has not sat well with former F1 driver Jonny Herbert.

At the start of the race at the Lusail International Circuit, Lewis Hamilton was on soft tires and had extra grip in comparison to George Russell and Max Verstappen, who were on the mediums. Moreover, coming into Turn1, he was almost level with Verstappen, but as he turned in, his right rear made contact with Russell’s W14, and he went spinning into the gravel.

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Hamilton was fuming inside his cockpit after the incident, and when he decided to cross the track when the race was active, he was criticized immensely for his actions. The dust was just beginning to settle in around the incident. Still, Jonny Herbert said, as reported by Racingnews360, “Lewis Hamilton is definitely a role model. However, walking across the track was the wrong thing to do.”

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“The criticisms levelled against him for the accident with Russell going into Turn 1 was not fair, that was part of racing. He only needed to give another six inches for it to be absolutely fine, but his judgment was not quite there.” He further added, “Even a seven-time world champion makes mistakes. Even the best have made mistakes. And Lewis has made very few mistakes in his career. I’d struggle to count them on the fingers of one hand.”

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Lewis Hamilton is eying a strong outing at the COTA circuit

While Jonny Herbert has made it clear that he is not too pleased with Lewis Hamilton’s track walk at the Lusail International circuit, the fact is that the incident has become a thing of the past. The pinnacle of motor racing is a fast-paced world where the drivers really do not have much time to dwell on the happenings of the past.

Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton. (Credits: Imago)

The United States Grand Prix is just a few days away, and considering this, the 38-year-old’s focus will solely be on putting up a strong show at the Circuit of the Americas. The W14 has developed well since the start of the 2023 F1 season and is tipped by several pundits as machinery that could take the fight to the mighty RB19 at the upcoming event.

Moreover, Lewis Hamilton is in a tight battle with Sergio Perez for second place in the Drivers Championship. If the latter goes through another torrid run during the US GP weekend, Hamilton would have every chance of significantly closing the gap to him in the standings. Several eyes will be on the Brit’s W14 at the event.

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