Charles Leclerc was issued a five-second time penalty during the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix. The penalty stemmed from an opening lap incident where Leclerc cut the track while battling for the lead with teammate Lewis Hamilton. This decision by the FIA stewards has since been clarified.
The incident occurred at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez as both Ferrari drivers vied for position. Leclerc moved around the outside of Turn 4, subsequently running wide and cutting across the grass. Hamilton also went slightly wide during this sequence.
Following this, Max Verstappen, driving for Red Bull, overtook Hamilton. Leclerc maintained his position ahead of Hamilton despite leaving the track. This prompted an investigation by race control.
Ahead of the race, the stewards had issued a specific clarification regarding track limits in the opening corners. This note aimed to prevent drivers from gaining a lasting advantage by leaving the track in these areas.
The pre-race directive stated that any car leaving the track and maintaining a position in close proximity behind could be deemed to have gained a lasting advantage. This would apply unless the position was yielded by Turn 4 or Turn 12, depending on the incident location.
The decision to impose only a five-second penalty, rather than the standard ten-second punishment, generated discussion within the paddock. Max Verstappen expressed his surprise at the stewards’ ruling.
“Normally, that penalty is 10 seconds, and now suddenly it’s five. I find that very strange too. In the end, it makes no difference. Although we had to fight tooth and nail for it.”
Lewis Hamilton also voiced his frustration over team radio during the race. He argued that Leclerc benefited from running in clean air, which mitigated the impact of the penalty.
“The problem is he’s got clean air, and doesn’t have to manage like the rest of us. He should just give the place back.”
Hamilton further stated that the stewards had effectively handed Leclerc the win, referencing agreements made in the drivers’ briefing.
The FIA stewards explained their decision by citing mitigating circumstances. They determined that both Leclerc’s car (Car 16) and Hamilton’s car (Car 44) entered Turn 4 with excessive speed.
This excessive speed meant neither driver would have been able to make the corner entirely on track. Hamilton’s car, on the inside, also had to go off track to navigate the corner.
The stewards concluded that Leclerc was not entitled to claim the corner due to his entry speed. His subsequent overtake while off-track warranted a penalty.
While the baseline guideline for such an infringement is a ten-second penalty, the stewards considered the fact that Hamilton was also off-track. The incident occurring early in the first lap was another mitigating factor.
Leclerc himself acknowledged the penalty was deserved. He noted the confusion of both cars failing to make Turn 4 and his subsequent inquiry to the team regarding yielding the position.
Max Verstappen ultimately won the Mexico City Grand Prix. Andrea Kimi Antonelli secured the 2026 World Drivers’ Championship by finishing third in the race. Leclerc finished fourth after serving his penalty.
