Lewis Hamilton: I was shocked by the penalty decision.

      For Lewis Hamilton it is important to put in the best possible qualifying performance at Monza also because the stewards at the Dutch Grand Prix punished the Ferrari driver, and he will lose five grid positions. The stewards judged the breach he committed to be so serious that he was also given two penalty points on his superlicense.

      At the FIA press conference on Thursday the seven-time world champion said he was simply shocked by the decision, which became known several hours after the finish of the race in Zandvoort.

      Lewis Hamilton: "I found out that I'd received this penalty only when my plane had landed (at Nice airport) and I was back home. To be honest, I was genuinely shocked. But it is what it is, although it's clear the situation is ambiguous. If you read the stewards' decision closely, they acknowledge the fact that I lifted off the throttle, however, in their view, that was not sufficient.

      I received a penalty and penalty points — that's a bit harsh. But it's a lesson for me, so there's no need to worry about it. However, fighting my way forward on Sunday will be difficult. The qualifying results are very tight, so simply making it into the final session is no easy task, let alone the top five.

      And then they'll move me back another five places, and there's nothing good about that, especially since this is my first race at Monza with Ferrari. But all this only fires me up, and I'm determined to fight to regain those positions, no matter what."