McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella has issued a warning regarding the potential for severe incidents following the contact between Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc at the recent Belgian Grand Prix. Stella indicated that similar occurrences in the future could lead to significantly worse outcomes.
The incident occurred on Lap 8 of the race at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. Piastri attempted an outside overtake on Leclerc as they approached the Les Combes braking zone.
The Ferrari driver moved slightly to the left, resulting in side-to-side contact between the two cars. Piastri’s MCL40 sustained floor damage, which subsequently cost him an estimated two to three tenths of a second per lap for the remainder of the race.
Despite the contact and Piastri’s car damage, the FIA stewards investigated the incident but ultimately took no further action against Leclerc.
The stewards’ verdict stated that while Piastri had ‘some overlap’ on Leclerc, his front axle was not ahead of Leclerc’s. They concluded there was no realistic possibility for Piastri to complete the overtake from that position.
Furthermore, the officials determined that Leclerc had not deliberately crowded Piastri off the track. They ruled that Leclerc followed the racing line by moving slightly to the left to prepare for Turn 5, leading to the contact.
Andrea Stella questioned the criteria applied by the stewards, specifically focusing on the ‘relative position between Oscar’s front axle and Leclerc’s car’. He stressed the importance of the defending car leaving adequate space when cars run alongside for an extended period.
‘I think in any case, when the cars are staying alongside for such a long time, I think we should ensure that the driver not on the racing line, because he is defending the inside, leaves enough space. Because if there’s a contact that is not controlled, then the crash is going to be very big.’
Piastri himself expressed dissatisfaction with the decision, stating he was ‘very lucky not to have a bigger crash’ and was perplexed by the lack of a penalty. He voiced concern about the precedent this ruling might establish.
Les Combes, a chicane sequence after the Kemmel Straight, is historically known as a challenging section of the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, often witnessing incidents, particularly during close racing.
FIA Driving Standards Guidelines indicate that for an outside overtake, the attacking car’s front axle must be ahead of the defending car’s front axle at the apex to be entitled to racing room. Additionally, the International Sporting Code mandates leaving at least one car width when returning to the racing line after defending off-line.
The incident, alongside a separate clash between Lewis Hamilton and George Russell at Les Combes in the same race, has intensified discussions regarding stewarding consistency and driving standards. These matters are scheduled for review at an upcoming FIA meeting during the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend.
In the Belgian Grand Prix, Kimi Antonelli secured the victory, with Leclerc finishing second. Piastri ultimately crossed the finish line in fifth position, 19 seconds behind Antonelli and nearly 17 seconds adrift of Leclerc.
McLaren, despite winning both titles in 2025, has faced a challenging start to the 2026 season, with their car concept reportedly lagging in development. The team is set to introduce a significant upgrade package at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Piastri’s 2026 season has been described as underwhelming, with his driving style reportedly less compatible with the current generation of F1 cars compared to teammate Lando Norris.
Charles Leclerc has recorded two podium finishes but no wins in seven races during the 2026 season. He has acknowledged struggles with the current cars and his aggressive driving approach, though he achieved a breakthrough victory at Silverstone earlier this year.
