The FIA Formula 1 stewards have explained why Charles Leclerc was only given a five-second penalty for cutting the track and passing Lewis Hamilton for the lead of the Mexico Grand Prix on the opening lap.
The Ferrari team-mates were duelling for the front spot from the start, having already gone side by side through the opening sequence of corners when Leclerc made a move on the outside of Turn 4.
Both drivers braked as late as possible, with Leclerc running wide and cutting across the grass before rejoining at the front after Turn 5.
Behind him Hamilton, in his attempt to defend by braking late, had run slightly wide – costing him momentum which allowed the pursuing Max Verstappen to make a move and snatch second spot.
This area of the track was, like the first corners, subject to a special rule to avoid shenanigans on opening laps of drivers cutting across the grass to gain positions.
In a note sent to teams ahead of the race, following discussions in the drivers’ briefing, the FIA said: “Any car leaving the track in these areas and maintaining a position to a car or cars within close proximity behind (as determined by the stewards) may be considered as gaining a lasting advantage, unless such position is yielded by Turn 4 [in the case of a car leaving the track in the area of Turns 1 to 3], or by Turn 12 [in the case of a car leaving the track in the area of Turns 4 to 6.]”Â
With Leclerc having not given up the place to Hamilton, he was therefore put under investigation for gaining an advantage – and it was decided that he would get a five-second penalty.
That proved controversial though with Hamilton in particular feeling that, with the advantage that Leclerc gained from having clean air which allowed him to build up a buffer, the sanction should have been the standard 10 seconds.
In messages over his radio as he ran third behind Verstappen, Hamilton said: “[The] problem with the five second penalty is he’s got clean air. He doesn’t have to manage like the rest of us.”
He later said: “The stewards have basically handed Charles this win…. we agreed, drivers’ briefing.”
In explaining why Leclerc was given a five-second penalty, the FIA stewards said that there were mitigating circumstances – which included Hamilton himself having run off the track as he defended the lead.
“The stewards have determined that both cars entered Turn 4 with excessive speed and therefore neither would have been able to make the corner on track, as demonstrated by the fact that car 44 [Hamilton] which was on the inside, had to go off track to make the corner,” said the stewards in a statement.
“Car 16 [Leclerc] was therefore not entitled to claim the corner due to the excessive entry speed. The driver then completed an overtake whilst off track and accordingly this warrants a penalty.
“The baseline penalty guideline is 10 seconds, however in mitigation is the fact that car 44 was also off track on the inside of car 16 and this occurred early in the first lap.”
Leclerc’s five second penalty meant he dropped behind Verstappen at his first stop, prior to the red flag being brought out by Valtteri Bottas’s crash.
