Italy: Hamilton given five-place grid drop for GP

Rome: Lewis Hamilton has been handed a five-place grid penalty for Ferrari’s home race in Italy next weekend, after failing to slow under double yellow flags before the start of the Dutch Grand Prix.

It capped a miserable weekend overall for the Italian team, who watched both Hamilton and Charles Leclerc crash out of the race in separate incidents.

Hamilton did not follow the race directors’ pre-race instructions given to all drivers, asking them to reduce their speed sufficiently at the pit entry to ensure the safety of people on the grid and in the pit lane.

The penalty would normally have been a 10-place grid drop, but the stewards acknowledged Hamilton did try to slow down and brake earlier.

It means the Briton will start no higher than sixth in his maiden race at Monza as a Ferrari driver.