Formula 1: Was Lewis Hamilton's Penalty Justified?

The Belgian Grand Prix was undoubtedly among the most exciting of the last decade. For sheer unpredictability and overall entertainment value, it sits proudly among the very highest echelonof Grands Prix, with the likes of Suzuka '05, Sepang '01 or Fuji '07.

Yet for most people, the race will not be remembered for its terrific drives, on the part of Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen, but for the highly controversial decision which denied Hamilton of his victory over two hours after the victory champagne had been sprayed.

This was applied because the overtaking manoeuvre Hamilton pulled on Raikkonen at the first hairpin, La Source, was deemed illegal. 

Approaching the famous Bus Stop chicane at the end of the lap, the Briton pulled alongside, if not marginally ahead of, the Finn under braking, on the outside. From here, Raikkonen took up a defensive line, perfectly legitimately, to deny the Englishman a chance to overtake around the outside. Sensing the door was closing, Hamilton took to the tarmac off the track, and cut the second apex of the chicane.

This allowed him to return to the track ahead of Raikkonen, who had dilligently rounded the second apex of the chicane and was now accelerating up the pit straight. Seeing the Finn, Hamilton briefly gave him back the lead, but, crucially, now appeared to have gained the advantage.

Although he wasn't directly alongside Raikkonen, Hamilton now had the option of passing Raikkonen on the inside of the La Source hairpin. He had not had the option at the previous corner, as Raikkonen had the corner covered with some intelligent defensive driving.

Raikkonen now had no defence against the McLaren of Hamilton's superior traction, or Hamilton's slipstreaming of the Ferrari, and the Englishman squeezed by.

The stewards have got it absolutely right in penalising Hamilton. Perhaps stripping him of the win is harsh, but there is no doubt that he was in a far more advantageous position after having cut the corner. He did give enough of the advantage back to Raikkonen when letting him through, so he immediately latched onto the Finn's gearbox, slipstreamed him, and passed easily. But ultimately unfairly.