FIA stewards explain Leclerc’s five-second Mexico GP penalty
Summary
The FIA stewards have explained why Charles Leclerc received only a five-second penalty for his off-track pass on Lewis Hamilton in Mexico, a decision that left Hamilton frustrated.
The FIA stewards have explained Charles Leclerc’s five-second penalty for leaving the track and passing Lewis Hamilton at Formula 1’s Mexico Grand Prix.
Why it matters:
The call shaped the fight for victory and clarified how stewards judge first-lap, off-track overtakes when both cars miss the corner. Leclerc kept the lead; Hamilton felt the penalty was too light.
The details:
- Leclerc started third behind pole-sitter Hamilton. Both Ferraris entered Turn 4 too fast, and the stewards ruled neither could have made the corner on track.
- Hamilton also went off on the inside. Leclerc was not entitled to the corner due to excessive entry speed and completed the pass off track.
- The baseline penalty was 10 seconds, reduced to five because Hamilton was also off track and the incident came on the opening lap.
- Leclerc did not return the place by Turn 12, against drivers’ briefing guidance. Doing so would have cost him two positions, with Max Verstappen ahead of Hamilton.
- Leclerc built a five-second gap in clean air. Hamilton said he “should just give the place back” and later claimed the stewards were “basically handing Charles this win.”
- Leclerc still lost the virtual lead to Verstappen after the first pit stops as Red Bull avoided the undercut.
What's next:
The ruling gives stewards another reference point for first-lap incidents, while Ferrari takes the result and Hamilton the frustration.
Original Article :https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/fia-stewards-explain-charles-leclercs-five-se...
