Lewis Hamilton slapped with grid penalty for Dutch Grand Prix as stewards show no mercy after meeting
Lewis Hamilton has been handed a three-place grid penalty
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Lewis Hamilton has been handed a three-place grid penalty following an incident involving Sergio Perez during qualifying.
The Mexican driver was left furious after Hamilton appeared to block him while on a hot lap during Q1 on Saturday.
It forced Perez to abandon the lap and pit for fresh soft tyres, which ultimately cost him in Q3.
For Hamilton, it was the start of what proved to be a calamitous qualifying session as he was knocked out in Q2.
Lewis Hamilton has been handed a three-place grid penalty
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Things went from bad to worse for Hamilton when he was summoned before the stewards after the session.
And Hamilton has been deemed at fault as he was given a three-place grid penalty for Sunday's race.
The stewards' verdict in full read: "The driver of Car 44, being on an in lap, was informed by the team that Car 11 was approaching on a fast lap when he entered Turn 8.
"He then drove off line at the exit of Turn 8 with the intention to give way for Car 11.
"However, when Car 11 arrived, Car 44 had already entered Turn 9 and drove back towards the racing line at the exit of Turn 9, thereby clearly impeding Car 11.
"The Stewards determine that, whilst there has been appropriate warning by the team and albeit the driver tried to move out of the way, he could have slowed down more in order not to impede the other car and therefore consider the impeding to be unnecessary in the sense of the regulations.
"Therefore a grid drop is applied in line with previous decisions."
Hamilton originally qualified 12th fastest, but he had gained a place following Alex Albon's disqualification.
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Lewis Hamilton has his work cut out to catch up to his team-mate
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The Williams driver was disqualified from qualifying after his floor was found to be in breach of the sporting regulations.
Albon had qualified a season-best eighth with an impressive drive, putting his car ahead of Lance Stroll's Aston Martin.
But his disqualification means Albon will now have to start from the back of the grid on Sunday.
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Hamilton will start the race in 14th, in between the two Haas drivers.
Lando Norris and Max Verstappen are set for another close battle for victory on Sunday with the McLaren pipping his rival to pole once again.
Oscar Piastri and George Russell will be close behind on the second row while Perez and Charles Leclerc will also be hoping to be involved in a fight for the podium.
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