Hamilton drops from third to seventh after Albon clash he admitted fault for; Sainz currently moves into third for McLaren for first F1 podium
Monday 18 November 2019 11:41, UK
Lewis Hamilton has lost his podium finish in the Brazilian GP and slipped to seventh after being handed a five-second time penalty for colliding with Alex Albon.
Carlos Sainz moves up to third for McLaren for his first career podium - and the Woking team's first since March 2014.
Revised Brazilian GP Top 10
1. Max Verstappen, Red Bull
2. Pierre Gasly, Toro Rosso
3. Carlos Sainz, McLaren
4. Kimi Raikkonen, Alfa Romeo
5. Antonio Giovinazzi, Alfa Romeo
6. Daniel Ricciardo, Renault
7. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
8. Lando Norris, McLaren
9. Sergio Perez, Racing Point
10. Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso
In an extraordinarily topsy-turvy Interlagos race from start to finish, Hamilton dropped back to fourth from second after a late Mercedes pit-stop gamble for fresh tyres under the Safety Car in a bid to win the race ahead of Max Verstappen.
At the restart, Hamilton immediately overtook Pierre Gasly for third but then, as he attempted to take second away from Albon, the world champion botched his move at Turn 10, hitting the Red Bull and spinning it around.
Hamilton was repassed by Gasly and, in an effective drag race down the pit straight on the final lap, was just pipped to second at the chequered flag by the Toro Rosso-Honda.
And although Hamilton climbed the podium in third place as stewards begun their investigation, the Briton immediately admitted fault for the Albon incident.
"I massively apologise to Albon," said Hamilton immediately after the race in parc ferme.
"Completely my fault."
He later added to Sky F1: "I never want to collide with anyone, but of course I was taking risks today.
"Naturally I take it on me, I was coming from behind, but he was doing a great job so apologies to him."
'Car 23 [Albon] was on his normal race line. Car 44 [Hamilton] attempted to pass on the inside, but was unable to get far enough inside to accomplish the overtake and by the time he realised there would not be sufficient room he was unable to back out of the situation and the collision followed.
'The stewards determined that Car 44 predominantly at fault for the collision with Car 23 at Turn 10 and therefore ordered a five-second penalty.'
Hamilton also had two penalty points added to his superlicence, taking him up to four for the last 12-month period.
