Charles Leclerc has conceded that his five-second penalty during the Mexico City Grand Prix was “deserved” after a high-stakes opening lap battle with teammate Lewis Hamilton. The Ferrari drivers went side-by-side through Turn 4, resulting in both cars running wide and Leclerc cutting across the grass to retain the lead.
Stewards Justify Penalty for Track Limits Violation
The FIA stewards issued the five-second penalty after determining that Leclerc was not entitled to the corner due to excessive entry speed, according to The Race. The ruling noted that both drivers were off-track, which served as a mitigating factor to reduce the standard 10-second penalty to five.
Leclerc admitted to the penalty but noted the situation was confusing, as he had asked the team for guidance while Max Verstappen capitalized on the incident to move into second place. “I asked, ‘What should I do now?’ And it’s always very tricky,” Leclerc told Motorsport.com.
Hamilton Demands Internal Discussions
Lewis Hamilton expressed significant frustration regarding the incident, suggesting it cost Ferrari a potential win and calling for “serious talks behind the scenes,” as reported by the BBC. Hamilton argued that the penalty failed to offset the advantage Leclerc gained by maintaining clean air.
📻 "I don't think Lewis knew I was coming"Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton get a little too close for comfort #F1 #SpanishGP pic.twitter.com/U6dr1dbMag
“If I’m coming from behind and I’m taking all the risk and it ends up we lose as a team, then I think I’d have some answering to do,” Hamilton said. He described the move as “unnecessary” and emphasized that team members in the background are impacted by such on-track decisions.
Drivers Call for Track Design Changes
Following the incident, both drivers pointed to the layout of the circuit as a contributing factor. The area in question was subject to specific rules agreed upon during the drivers’ briefing, which mandated that positions gained off-track must be yielded by Turn 12.
“I think the conclusion of everyone is that we first need probably to change the tracks and make sure that there’s no places or tracks where you can take those amount of risk on the inside,” Leclerc stated. He suggested that the presence of a wall at the exit of Turn 4 would have forced both drivers to brake earlier, preventing the incident entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the stewards reduce the penalty from 10 to 5 seconds?
The stewards applied a five-second penalty because they determined both drivers entered the corner with excessive speed and that Hamilton, who was on the inside, was also forced off the track, according to The Race.
Did Leclerc receive instructions from his team to give the position back?
Leclerc stated that he did not receive clear feedback from the team during the heat of the moment, leading him to hold his position while the situation remained confusing, as reported by Motorsport.com.
How did the incident affect the race outcome?
The battle allowed Max Verstappen to overtake Hamilton for second place. While Leclerc eventually served his penalty at his pitstop, the incident disrupted Ferrari’s momentum during the opening laps, according to Formula 1.
Worth a look