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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Fraser Watson

Most penalised F1 drivers of last decade as Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen make top 10

Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen's misdemeanours have cost their teams thousands in the last decade of F1 racing.

Indeed, both drivers became embroiled in a tempestuous battle for the title in 2021, falling foul of the stewards on multiple occasions. Their on-track collisions at Silverstone and Monza prompted much debate between the garages of Mercedes and Red Bull over who was at fault.

At the British race, it was Hamilton deemed at fault after Verstappen was hospitalised having seemingly been forced off the track by his rival. However, despite incurring a 10-second penalty, the seven-time world champion recovered to win the race - and his celebrations afterwards angered the Dutchman.

In Monza, however, it was Verstappen who was handed a three-place grid penalty for the following Grand Prix after a sickening collision between the pair. Indeed, Hamilton claimed he owed to his life to the halo on his vehicle, that prevented his head careering into the Red Bull.

And now, it will come as little surprise to F1 fans that both rank among the top most penalised F1 drivers in the last decade. Although equally as surprising, neither makes it into the top six of the list.

According to a report by https://www.money.co.uk/credit-cards.htm, Hamilton, 37, is the seventh most penalised driver between 2011 and 2021 having racked up £51,400 in fines with McLaren and Mercedes. Verstappen, 24, lies 10th with a total of £41,900 - although it is worth nothing he has just 141 F1 starts to his name compared to Hamilton's 288.

Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton played out a rollercoaster 2021 season (AFP via Getty Images)

Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado is in a class of his own though. The ex-Williams and Lotus driver leads the way with £108,200 from just three penalties - and remarkably that was after just 95 race starts.

Verstappen's Red Bull partner Sergio Perez is second with his seven offences with various teams costing £94,200, with Jean Eric-Vergne, who spent three years with Toro Rosso from 2012-2014, third with £62,400. Sebastian Vettel comes next, the icon's six offences deemed worthy of £54,400 in fines.

Romain Grosjean (£54,100) is another ahead of Hamilton. Current Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll sits just behind the Mercedes man in eighth, with a total of £51,000.

However, one of the most intriguing names of the list is former F1 champion Kimi Raikkonen. The Finn, who retired at the end of 2021 after a stellar career, is ninth with £50,000.

That is despite notching 11 punishable offences, five more than the next highest total set by Vettel. However, his offences were mostly low-level ones, and also came over a total of 349 race starts.

Of course, Hamilton and Verstappen still have time to raise their current figures, although both drivers will be primarily focused with bouncing back from a disappointing Bahrain Grand Prix. Hamilton finished third despite being notably off the pace, with the world champion was forced to retire with fuel pump problems.

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