Canadian Grand Prix 2019 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Lewis Hamilton inherited victory at the Canadian Grand Prix in the most controversial circumstances of the 2019 season, as Sebastian Vettel was handed a five-second time penalty for an unsafe rejoin that cost him what would have been Ferrari's first win in over a year. Vettel started from pole position and led the majority of the race, controlling proceedings from the front while Hamilton applied relentless pressure from second place. The race exploded into controversy on lap 48 when Hamilton forced Vettel into a mistake at Turn 3, causing the Ferrari driver to run wide onto the grass while defending the lead.

As Vettel struggled to control his SF90 on the slippery grass, he rejoined the track directly in Hamilton's path, squeezing the Mercedes driver toward the wall at Turn 4. Stewards deemed this an unsafe rejoin and issued a five-second penalty to Vettel, effectively handing the victory to Hamilton despite the German crossing the finish line first. The decision sparked outrage from Ferrari, Vettel, and many fans who felt the penalty was overly harsh for what appeared to be a racing incident where Vettel had limited control while bouncing across the grass. Vettel's fury was evident as he switched the first and second place boards in parc fermé before confronting the stewards.

Hamilton officially won by 1.3 seconds after Vettel's penalty was applied, with Charles Leclerc completing the podium in third for Ferrari. Valtteri Bottas set the fastest lap despite finishing fourth. The Canadian Grand Prix penalty became a flashpoint in debates about over-regulation in Formula 1, with #LetThemRace trending worldwide as fans protested what they perceived as robbing them of a thrilling finish. The controversy intensified scrutiny on stewarding consistency and sparked discussions about whether penalties should be applied for incidents where drivers lose control through no fault of their own. Despite the backlash, Hamilton's victory extended his championship lead to 29 points over Vettel, though the manner of the win was far from satisfying for anyone involved.