LEWIS HAMILTON IS THE CLEANEST DRIVER IN FORMULA 1 AND THE STATS PROVE IT
At the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix, Lewis picked up a rare penalty that put him on the back foot ahead of Ferrari’s crucial home race at Monza. While penalties are common in F1, the bigger story is just how unusual this moment was for Lewis.
Lewis has built his career on a reputation of fair, clean, and intelligent racing. Mistakes happen, but when you compare his record to other drivers on the grid—especially his long-time rival Max Verstappen—the difference is staggering. What happened in Zandvoort only highlights what an anomaly it is when Lewis receives a sanction.
What Happened At The Dutch Grand Prix
The Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort was already shaping up to be a chaotic weekend, and unfortunately for Lewis, it ended earlier than expected. His Ferrari found the barriers just as the first pit-stop window opened. That meant he was unable to continue and, crucially, the stewards couldn’t apply his penalty during the race itself.
The issue stemmed from the pit entry. Before lights out, drivers were instructed to slow down because of the large number of team members and officials in the area. Lewis failed to reduce his speed sufficiently, and the stewards had no choice but to issue a penalty. Normally, this kind of offense carries a ten-place grid drop and three penalty points. But in Lewis’s case, the stewards recognized that he did apply the brakes, so they handed him a five-place penalty and just two penalty points.
This small detail matters. It shows that even when Lewis is penalized, there’s recognition of his intent to follow the rules. For a man who has spent nearly two decades in F1, it was a blemish on an otherwise astonishingly clean record.
Lewis’s Reputation For Fair Racing
Back in 2020, Jenson Button—Lewis’s former McLaren teammate—famously called him “the cleanest guy I ever raced against.” Button explained that Lewis never played dirty, never resorted to reckless maneuvers, and always respected the unwritten code of fair racing. That’s not just empty praise—it’s backed up by hard numbers.
Between the 2023 Italian Grand Prix and Zandvoort 2025, Lewis went 51 consecutive races without a single penalty point. That is the longest streak of any current F1 driver and a record that speaks volumes about his discipline behind the wheel. The only reason the streak ended was because of a pit-lane speed infringement—not a wheel-to-wheel clash or an unsafe move on track.
This is what makes Lewis unique. While many drivers rack up penalty points for aggressive or careless on-track behavior, Lewis’s infractions are few and far between. He doesn’t need to bend the rules to win. His incredible racecraft, vision, and experience allow him to compete fiercely while still staying within the limits of fair racing.
Comparing Lewis To Other Drivers
When you compare Lewis’s record to some of his rivals, the contrast is night and day. Max Verstappen, for instance, is the complete opposite. As of now, Max has accumulated nine penalty points in the past year alone. That puts him dangerously close to the threshold of 12 points, which triggers a one-race ban. With his next points not expiring until late October, one serious offense could see him sidelined.
This isn’t new for Max either. Since the penalty points system was introduced in 2014, Verstappen leads the all-time chart with a staggering 46 points collected across his career. Kevin Magnussen follows with 37, while Lance Stroll and Sergio Perez are tied for third at 34 each.
Compare that with Lewis, who has consistently maintained one of the lowest totals on the grid. It’s not just about avoiding bans—it’s about how he races. Lewis is aggressive when he needs to be, but he rarely crosses the line into recklessness. This is what sets him apart from Verstappen and many others.
The Clean Record That Defines A Career
Lewis’s 51-race streak without a penalty point is more than just a statistic—it’s a reflection of who he is as a racer. To maintain such discipline across multiple seasons, through countless battles, changing regulations, and intense pressure, requires not just skill but also maturity.
It’s worth remembering that the last time Lewis was penalized before Zandvoort was back in Monza 2023. On that occasion, he collided with Oscar Piastri. Even then, Lewis owned up to the mistake immediately and went as far as apologizing to Piastri. That humility, coupled with accountability, is rare in a sport where egos often dominate.
This honesty is part of why Lewis remains one of the most respected figures in Formula 1, not just by fans but by his fellow drivers. He knows the responsibility that comes with being a seven-time world champion, and he carries it with dignity.
Why Clean Racing Matters In Formula 1
In F1, reputations are built not only on victories but also on how those victories are achieved. Clean racing fosters respect from rivals, earns the trust of fans, and creates a legacy that goes beyond statistics. Michael Schumacher, Ayrton Senna, and Alain Prost are remembered not just for their titles but also for their controversial clashes. Lewis, on the other hand, is carving a different kind of legacy—one defined by dominance without unnecessary aggression.
For young drivers coming up through the ranks, Lewis is the perfect example of how to balance aggression with fairness. He proves that you can fight hard for every corner without resorting to dirty tactics.
Ferrari, Monza, And The Bigger Picture
Looking ahead at the time, the penalty at Zandvoort leaves Lewis on the back foot for Ferrari’s home race at Monza. It’s a bitter pill to swallow, especially since Ferrari fans are desperate for a strong result at their temple of speed. And Lewis did not disappoint. He has always been held back by everybody but he showed them that no matter what they do, still he rises. P6 at Monza from P10 is a good result.
If there’s one driver who knows how to bounce back from setbacks, it’s Lewis. He has spent his entire career overcoming challenges, whether it was fighting against dominant Red Bull machinery, battling with Nico Rosberg inside Mercedes, or now trying to lift Ferrari back to the top.
The penalty doesn’t change who Lewis is. It doesn’t erase his clean record or his incredible reputation. Instead, it adds to his story—a reminder that even the cleanest drivers can be caught out, but what defines them is how they respond.
Final Thoughts: The Cleanest Racer In F1
Formula 1 has seen many great champions, but few can claim to have combined relentless success with such a clean, respectful style of racing. Lewis Hamilton is, without doubt, the cleanest driver in Formula 1. His remarkable streak of penalty-free races, his accountability when mistakes happen, and his overall attitude on and off the track set him apart.
While rivals like Max Verstappen flirt with race bans and rack up penalty points, Lewis continues to embody what fair and disciplined racing should look like. The Dutch Grand Prix may have ended in disappointment, but it only highlighted just how rare it is for Lewis to find himself on the wrong side of the rulebook.
The message is clear: you can try to copy Lewis’s success, but you can’t replicate his integrity. His legacy as the cleanest driver in Formula 1 is already written in the history books—and no single penalty can change that.
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