What is going on with Lewis Hamilton? Ferrari star's five penalties in three races raise questions over his F1 title bid

Lewis Hamilton's switch to Ferrari was supposed to begin one of the biggest comeback stories in Formula 1. After winning seven world championships with Mercedes, the British driver arrived at Maranello hoping to finally deliver Ferrari another drivers' title. While his first season with the Italian team has produced wins, podiums and a genuine championship fight, the last three race weekends have suddenly changed the conversation.


Five separate penalties have cost Hamilton valuable points, leading many fans to ask one simple question: what exactly is going on with Lewis Hamilton?

Hamilton's recent run has been filled with costly mistakes and close steward decisions. Since the Belgian Grand Prix weekend, the Ferrari driver has collected five penalties across just three races, something rarely associated with a driver known for his consistency.

The run began at the British Grand Prix, where Hamilton received a five second penalty for moving before the race start. He was also handed a reprimand after failing to slow enough under yellow flag conditions. Neither incident completely ruined his weekend, but they hinted at growing frustration.

Things became even more difficult at Spa Francorchamps. Hamilton received another five second penalty after being judged responsible for a collision with former Mercedes teammate George Russell. The incident sparked plenty of debate, with some fans calling it a racing incident while others believed the stewards made the correct decision.


The trend continued in Hungary. Hamilton was given a three place grid penalty after impeding Oscar Piastri during qualifying before later picking up another five second penalty for speeding in the pit lane. Reports suggested he exceeded the speed limit by just 0.1 km/h, highlighting how unforgiving modern Formula 1 regulations have become.

Following the Hungarian Grand Prix, Hamilton did not hide his disappointment. Reflecting on the recent run, he admitted that staying positive after several penalties had become difficult. He said in a Formula 1 post-race interview, "After three penalties in three weekends, staying positive is difficult."

He also accepted that not every penalty could be blamed on bad luck. Some came from his own mistakes, while others were extremely fine margins that could have gone either way. Many fans defended Hamilton on social media, arguing that modern Formula 1 officiating leaves almost no room for error. Others felt that a driver with his experience simply cannot afford these kinds of mistakes while fighting for a championship.

Despite the recent setbacks, Hamilton's overall numbers remain impressive. Heading into the summer break, he sits second in the drivers' standings behind Mercedes youngster Kimi Antonelli and remains firmly in the title race.


Hamilton has already claimed one race victory and five podium finishes this season while regularly scoring points for Ferrari. He has also generally enjoyed the upper hand over teammate Charles Leclerc in race performances, showing that his speed has not disappeared after leaving Mercedes. Those results make the recent penalty streak stand out even more. Without those lost seconds and grid positions, Hamilton could have been much closer to the championship leader.

There is no single answer behind Hamilton's recent struggles. Formula 1's new 2026 regulations have completely changed the behaviour of the cars, forcing even experienced champions to adapt. Ferrari's new package has shown excellent pace but also demands extreme precision. Small mistakes around pit lane procedures, qualifying traffic or wheel to wheel racing are punished immediately under today's regulations.

Hamilton has also always been an aggressive racer who enjoys pushing the limits. That style has helped him win countless races throughout his career, but it also leaves little room for error when stewards apply the rules more strictly than ever before.

Former drivers and analysts have also pointed out that joining a completely new team after more than a decade at Mercedes naturally comes with adjustments. Different engineers, different systems and different communication methods can all influence tiny details that matter over a race weekend.


The encouraging news for Ferrari is that Hamilton's pace remains genuine. The penalties have hurt his results, but they have not hidden the fact that he continues to fight near the front against Antonelli, Max Verstappen and Lando Norris almost every weekend.

If Ferrari can eliminate these avoidable mistakes after the summer break, Hamilton still has every chance of mounting a serious title challenge. His experience in championship battles remains one of his biggest strengths, and few drivers understand pressure better than the seven time world champion.

For now, however, every race weekend comes with extra scrutiny. Hamilton's Ferrari adventure is still producing exciting moments, but unless the penalties stop, his dream of an eighth world title may become far more difficult than anyone expected.