Involved in contact with Oscar Piastri at the Belgian Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc ultimately avoided any penalty. A decision by the stewards that surprised several observers.
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The Belgian Grand Prix kept the race stewards busy. After the penalty given to Lewis Hamilton for his clash with George Russell on the first lap, another incident quickly caught their attention: the one involving Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri.
The action took place a few laps later, at the end of the long Kemmel straight, approaching the Combes corner. Piastri was then attempting to make a move on the Monegasque’s Ferrari to take his position.
When defending, Leclerc gradually moved towards the inside. The Australian was already almost alongside him and the two cars ended up making contact.
Damage for McLaren
Although both drivers were able to continue their race, the incident was not without consequences. Piastri’s McLaren notably lost part of its floor after the impact, a crucial element for the aerodynamic performance of a Formula 1 car.
The clash was naturally reported to the stewards, who opened an investigation to determine if Charles Leclerc had respected the current defensive driving rules.
The current guidelines on driving standards require a driver to leave at least the width of a car when an opponent is sufficiently alongside. Based on the footage, some believed that this condition was not fully respected by the Ferrari driver.
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The stewards decide not to penalize Leclerc
Despite opening an investigation, the stewards ultimately chose not to take any action against Charles Leclerc.
Unlike Lewis Hamilton, who was earlier penalized with a five-second penalty for his clash with George Russell, the Monegasque was therefore able to continue his race without any impact on the standings.
This decision surprised several paddock observers, who expected a stricter interpretation of the driving guidelines.
Martin Brundle does not hide his surprise
Among the most surprised voices is Martin Brundle. The Sky Sports F1 commentator believed the incident deserved a penalty, given the position of the McLaren at the time of contact and the rules currently applied by the FIA.
The former British driver considered that Leclerc did not leave enough space for his rival, which makes the stewards’ decision particularly debated.
As often in Formula 1, the interpretation of race incidents continues to fuel debates. While the stewards judged that this contact was a simple racing incident, this decision is likely to cause discussion, especially as it comes on the same day as a penalty given to Lewis Hamilton for another clash at the start of the Belgian Grand Prix.
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