I was surprised it took Lewis nearly 12 laps to get past Russel since the GR's car had damage and the older spec version, plus Lewis had DRS etc....
This takes a deeper dive into your supposition: https://www.planetf1.com/features/lewis-hamilton-data-confirms-clear-theory-w15-upgrade-package
Again, please explain to me and the rest how T4 warranted a 10 second penalty when others got either nothing or 5 seconds. There was nothing extreme about T4. How can others get nothing or 5 seconds for the same thing, and last week it was nothing or 5 seconds as well. You can't dream up an extra 5 seconds just because you don't like the driver (and Johnny Herbert has a LOT of content saying how much he dislikes Max). T7 yes and he received appropriate punishment, that's unquestionable.
Obviously the stewards didn't see it how you saw it. They thought Max's driving was more deserving of a penalty. Which Max brought on himself. That's why I said going down the rabbit whole of blaming (or sharing the blame) on the refs will not work.
It's bias, simple as that. Factually speaking: USA: Russell Forces Bottas off the track (T15), 5 seconds penalty Mexico: Verstappen forces Norris off track (T4), 10 seconds penalty this is the standard penalty (as per FIA Doc, it didn't say this for USA) Fact: USA: Car 4 left the track and gained a lasting advantage, 5 second penalty Mexico: Car 1 left the track and gained a lasting advantage, 10 second penalty this is the standard penalty (as per FIA Doc, it didn't say this for USA) They're measuring with 2 different sticks, how is that possibly fair? They either gave Max the correct penalties for the same offense, but gave Norris' lesser penalties for the same offense, which is just wrong, or they gave Norris the standard penalty (that we have consistently seen applied) and gave Max a higher penalty, which is wrong. There are no good reasons for this. I want consistency.
Fact: Sainz forced Leclerc off track at T15 and gained a lasting advantage. No penalty. Sainz forced Russell off track at T15 and gained a lasting advantage. No penalty. Leclerc forced Russell off track at T15 and gained a lasting advantage. No penalty. Norris pushed Russell off track at T15 to keep his position. No penalty.
Maybe we can replace human stewards with AI Sadly, as long as humans are deciding and enforcing sporting event rules, bias DOES creep in. Perfect example was Draymond Greene getting a tech 4 minutes into the FIRST game of this NBA season. Why? Because of his history. It’s not fair or equitable, but Draymond (and Max) brought increased scrutiny (and punishment) on themselves.
Should Lando have received a ban for dive bombing Verstappen in Austria and driving him off the track given he did it multiple laps in a row? Should Rosberg receive a ban for not turning into the corner and causing a crash with Hamilton in Austria in 2016? Should Perez have received a ban for his dive bomb in Miami that almost took out the 3 leaders? Should Bottas have received a ban for being a bowling ball in Hungary 2021? Should Hamilton have received a ban for not throwing his car down the inside and missing the apex by a mile at 160 causing a major collision with Max at Silverstone in 2021? Max deserved a penalty, but a race ban? Come on.
