Leclerc receives five-second penalty for Mexico GP overtake
FIA stewards explain why Charles Leclerc was penalised after passing Lewis Hamilton off track at Turn 4.
Charles Leclerc was given a five-second penalty in the Mexico City Grand Prix for overtaking Lewis Hamilton off the track at Turn 4. The stewards said both cars entered the corner with excessive speed, but Leclerc completed the pass while off track.
Key takeaways
- Leclerc started third at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, with Hamilton on pole.
- Leclerc went off track at Turn 4 while ahead at the apex and kept the lead.
- Stewards said neither car could make the corner on track due to excessive speed.
- The baseline penalty was 10 seconds, reduced to five because Hamilton also went off track.
- Hamilton called the decision unfair, saying the stewards were handing Leclerc the win.
Charles Leclerc was handed a five-second penalty for overtaking Lewis Hamilton off the track during the Mexico City Grand Prix, Autosport reported. The incident happened at Turn 4 of the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez while Leclerc was running third on the grid and Hamilton started from pole position.
What happened at Turn 4
Hamilton narrowly retained the advantage in the first section of corners, but going into Turn 4, Leclerc was ahead at the apex. Hamilton still gave him little to no space and the Monegasque went off into the lead.
Leclerc failed to return the position by Turn 12, which guidelines discussed in the drivers’ briefing had made a clear requirement – and which would have cost him two spots, with Verstappen jumping ahead of Hamilton then.
It was unclear whether Leclerc could have stayed on the track; stewards believe he wouldn’t have, so they gave him a penalty – but only five seconds, due to mitigating circumstances.
Stewards’ reasoning
” “Car 16 was therefore not entitled to claim the corner due to the excessive entry speed. ”
Impact and reaction
The stewards’ decision therefore proved unpopular with the seven-time world champion, who was keen to see his team-mate more harshly penalised. “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 said. A few laps later, he doubled down: “The stewards are basically handing Charles this win.”
Context
Leclerc is a Monégasque racing driver who competes in Formula One for Ferrari. He was runner-up in the Formula One World Drivers’ Championship in 2022 with Ferrari, and has won nine Grands Prix across nine seasons.
The 2024 Mexico City Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on 27 October 2024 at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City, Mexico. It was the twentieth round of the 2024 Formula One World Championship. Carlos Sainz Jr.
of Ferrari took pole position, and went on to win the race ahead of Lando Norris of McLaren and teammate Charles Leclerc. Sainz's win was the fourth of his career, his final win with Ferrari, and his first in Mexico City.
Both Ferrari cars finished on the podium, which allowed the team to take second ahead of Red Bull Racing in the Constructors' Championship.
Key facts from the stewards’ explanation
Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
Driver penalised | Charles Leclerc |
Penalty | Five seconds |
Offence | Overtaking off track at Turn 4 |
Baseline guideline | 10 seconds |
Mitigation | Hamilton also went off track |
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