Charles Leclerc has unfortunately lost seventh place in the 2026 Brazilian Grand Prix after the FIA stewards imposed a five-second time penalty for contact with Liam Lawson during the closing stages at Interlagos. Although the Ferrari driver recovered to cross the finish line ahead of the Racing Bulls, the post-race sanction reversed their positions, promoting Liam Lawson to seventh and dropping Charles Leclerc to eighth.
The decision delivered another disappointing blow to Ferrari following a difficult afternoon in São Paulo. Charles Leclerc had managed to recover positions during a challenging race, but his late battle with Liam Lawson ultimately proved costly once the stewards reviewed the contact between their cars.
Charles Leclerc’s Brazilian GP penalty follows late clash with Liam Lawson
The incident occurred at the end of lap 69 of the scheduled 71-lap Brazilian Grand Prix, with Charles Leclerc attempting to overtake Liam Lawson in the final stages of the race.
Running behind the Racing Bulls driver, the Monegasque launched an attack on the inside under braking, attempting to draw alongside and claim the position. However, the two cars made wheel-to-wheel contact as Charles Leclerc tried to complete the manoeuvre.
Neither driver suffered an immediate setback from the collision. Both remained in control of their cars, stayed on the circuit and continued racing without going off track.
Liam Lawson initially defended successfully and retained seventh place, preventing the Ferrari driver from completing the overtake at the first opportunity. Charles Leclerc nevertheless continued his pursuit and managed to pass the New Zealander shortly afterwards.
The Ferrari driver subsequently took the chequered flag in seventh position, apparently securing another points finish after the difficulties described in the Brazilian Grand Prix race report.
FIA stewards hand Charles Leclerc five-second penalty after investigation
However, the on-track result was not the end of the matter. The late contact between Charles Leclerc and Liam Lawson had attracted the attention of the FIA stewards, who investigated the incident before issuing their decision.
After reviewing the collision, the stewards determined that Charles Leclerc was responsible and imposed a five-second time penalty.
Unlike a penalty served during a pit stop, the sanction was added directly to the Ferrari driver’s race time after the finish, meaning his seventh-place result was no longer secure.
The crucial factor was the small gap separating the two drivers at the chequered flag. Although Charles Leclerc had finished ahead, Liam Lawson was only 1.816 seconds behind, leaving the Ferrari driver without a sufficient margin to retain his position once the five-second penalty was applied.
Charles Leclerc drops to eighth as Liam Lawson gains position
The revised classification therefore placed Liam Lawson ahead of Charles Leclerc, reversing their finishing order and leaving the Ferrari driver in eighth position rather than seventh.
The outcome was particularly frustrating because the initial contact had not forced either competitor off the circuit or prevented them from continuing. Nevertheless, the stewards judged that Charles Leclerc bore responsibility for the incident, and the resulting time penalty was enough to change the final classification.
With the collision coming so late in the Grand Prix, there was little opportunity for the Ferrari driver to establish a larger gap before the chequered flag.
The change added another setback to an already difficult race for the Scuderia. Charles Leclerc had managed to fight his way into seventh on the road, only to surrender the position following the stewards’ decision.
His movement through the field and the late battle with Liam Lawson can be placed in the wider context of the race using the F1 Race Position and Progression Tracker, while further developments involving the Ferrari driver can be followed through the Charles Leclerc news section.
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