Hamilton Hit With Penalty After Late-Race Brake Drama Sparks Alonso Fury in Chaotic Singapore GP Finale

Lewis Hamilton’s dramatic final laps at the Marina Bay Street Circuit ended in controversy after the seven-time world champion was handed a five-second time penalty for repeated track-limits violations while managing suspected brake issues. The ruling dropped the Ferrari driver from seventh to eighth place, placing him behind Fernando Alonso after a tense on-track chase that saw the Aston Martin driver finish only a tenth of a second behind.

Hamilton’s race unraveled in the final four laps. Despite holding a dominant 52-second advantage over Alonso on lap 58, the Ferrari driver’s pace collapsed as brake troubles emerged. He lost three seconds on lap 59, five seconds on lap 60, and an astonishing 32 seconds on lap 61, sending shockwaves through both garages and setting up a dramatic final-lap showdown.

The brake problem became severe enough that Hamilton was instructed to manage the car carefully to ensure he could reach the chequered flag. While he managed to preserve what was left of his deteriorating 12-second buffer, he repeatedly left the circuit, pushing track limits to keep ahead of Alonso as the Aston Martin closed rapidly.

Alonso, who caught Hamilton in the final corners, was furious over the radio.

“I cannot f*ing believe it,”** he exclaimed repeatedly after crossing the finish line.
“Is it safe to drive with no brakes?”

His frustration reflected both the time he was forced to make up and his belief that Hamilton was gaining advantage by leaving the track, even in the midst of mechanical trouble.

Speaking in a calmer tone afterward to Spanish broadcaster DAZN, Alonso said he had been informed about Hamilton’s brake problems only two laps before the end.

“I finished about a tenth behind him, so it was a bit frustrating,” Alonso said. “But at the same time, I think it’s being investigated now for track limits and everything. Because when you don’t have brakes, you can’t really go off the track, because we all have to stay on the track, with or without brakes.”

He added that while some tolerance is typically granted, “hopefully today it will be a little less.”

The FIA stewards soon confirmed that Hamilton had indeed committed multiple track-limits infringements and that the brake-related issues did not qualify for any exemption.

In their official ruling, the stewards wrote:

“During the hearing, the driver confirmed that he left the track on several occasions. He was trying to manage a brakes issue situation.”

They acknowledged the mechanical issue but emphasized that it did not justify the repeated violations.

“After further investigation, and in accordance with the list of exemptions foreseen in the Driving Standards Guidelines, the stewards considered that this was not a justifiable reason and apply the usual penalty for such type of infringement.”

Ferrari did not contest the decision, nor did Hamilton.

The penalty immediately altered the final race classification, promoting Alonso to seventh place and dropping Hamilton to eighth. For Ferrari, it was a disappointing conclusion to what had been a relatively stable race until the late mechanical setback.

The incident added a new chapter to the ongoing tension between Hamilton and Alonso, two of Formula 1’s longest-serving and most accomplished drivers. Their rivalry, which dates back to their 2007 season as McLaren teammates, has produced numerous memorable moments, and this latest flashpoint offered another dramatic installment.

The issue also raised broader questions about how track limits should be enforced when a driver is experiencing mechanical trouble. While safety concerns must be considered, the FIA made clear that allowing exceptions risks undermining the consistency of stewarding decisions across the season.

In Hamilton’s case, the stewards determined that—even with brake trouble—the benefit gained from leaving the track was too significant to ignore, especially given Alonso’s rapid closing pace and the minimal margin at the finish.

The Marina Bay Street Circuit, notorious for its physical demands and punishing layout, has often exposed mechanical frailty. This year’s event proved no exception, as Hamilton’s late-race drama overshadowed what had been a smooth run until the final laps.

For Alonso, the ruling brought some vindication after a frustrating chase. For Hamilton, it was a rare misstep in an otherwise controlled race. And for Ferrari, the late penalty represented an avoidable loss of points at a critical stage of the championship.

With the FIA standing firm on its decision, the Singapore Grand Prix will likely be remembered not for the winner, but for the dramatic final laps and the renewed debate over track limits, mechanical failure, and competitive fairness.