Lewis Hamilton astonished by 'nuts' decision after controversial incident at Mexico Grand Prix

The two went wheel-to-wheel through the opening sequence of turns before Verstappen ran wide at Turn 3.

As the pair charged towards Turn 4, Hamilton attempted to go around the outside but locked up under braking, cut the corner across the grass and rejoined the track ahead of the Red Bull driver.

The stewards ruled that Hamilton had “left the track and gained a lasting advantage,” awarding him a 10-second time penalty that ultimately left him eighth at the chequered flag.

“It felt like racing,” Hamilton said afterwards.

“I was fine there, it was just the cutting. Then I’m the only one to get a 10-second penalty. It was kind of nuts.”

Hamilton faced two separate investigations for the incident.

The first examined whether he had failed to follow the race director’s instructions to use the designated run-off route.

Officials determined that he had approached the corner too fast to safely follow the prescribed line, so no punishment was issued on that count.

However, they decided that by rejoining ahead of Verstappen and not surrendering the position, Hamilton had gained an advantage.

In their report, stewards explained: “Car 44 (Hamilton) locked brakes, left the track at Turn 4 and used the grass area while rejoining in the direction of Turn 5.

“As the driver was unable to follow the route prescribed by the Race Director along the yellow line due to an excess of speed, no breach of the Race Director’s Notes is deemed to have occurred.

“However, by leaving the track and cutting the corner, the driver gained a lasting advantage, overtaking Car 1 (Verstappen) and failing to give back the position thereafter.

“The standard penalty for leaving the track and gaining a lasting advantage is therefore imposed.”

Earlier in the same sequence, Verstappen and Hamilton had made light contact at Turn 1 as the Dutchman dived up the inside.

The stewards investigated but classified the clash as a “racing incident.”

Verstappen also went off at Turn 3, cutting across the corner before rejoining, but was not penalised.

The report stated: “Car 1 (Verstappen) overtook Car 44 (Hamilton) on the inside of Turn 1.

“At the apex, Verstappen’s front axle was clearly in front of Hamilton’s mirror and therefore Verstappen was entitled to the racing line.

“Hamilton remained alongside through the corner, resulting in slight contact between the wheels of both cars.

“Considering that Hamilton had limited opportunity to leave additional space and that no sporting consequence resulted, the matter falls within a racing incident.”

Mercedes star George Russell later expressed his confusion over the stewarding decisions, questioning why Verstappen escaped sanction for cutting corners earlier in the race.

Verstappen, who started fifth, locked up on the run to Turn 1, ran off the circuit, and still managed to rejoin ahead of Russell and Hamilton.

“I don’t understand how three drivers can cut the first corner and just continue in the position they entered,” Russell told Sky Sports F1.

“It’s like allowing you to risk everything and have a get-out-of-jail-free card if you get it wrong.”

Reflecting on Hamilton’s penalty, Russell added: “When Max and Lewis came together, Lewis got a penalty — rightly so, maybe — but Max was also off the track and came back on.

“It was just the wrong place and wrong time for me, and I lost three positions. I was pretty frustrated, but it all stemmed from Lap 1.”