The FIA stewards have explained why Charles Leclerc received a five-second penalty rather than the standard 10-second sanction for overtaking Lewis Hamilton off the track during the opening lap of the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix. Their official decision identifies excessive entry speed from both Ferrari drivers at Turn 4 as a significant factor, while confirming that Leclerc gained a position through an overtaking manoeuvre completed outside the circuit boundaries.
The explanation adds an important distinction to the controversy that dominated Ferrari’s opening stages. Although the stewards considered Leclerc’s overtake deserving of a penalty, they also acknowledged that Hamilton had gone off the track on the inside of the corner. Combined with the fact that the incident occurred early on the opening lap, that circumstance justified reducing the sanction from the usual 10 seconds to five.
FIA explains why Charles Leclerc was penalised at Mexico GP Turn 4
The incident occurred during an intense first-lap battle between Ferrari teammates Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, who had started the race from first and third respectively.
Hamilton initially maintained his advantage from pole position, but Leclerc challenged through the opening corners after George Russell lost ground at the start. The two Ferrari drivers continued their battle towards Turn 4, where Leclerc moved ahead after going off the track.
In their written explanation, the stewards concluded that neither Ferrari driver had approached the corner at a speed that would have allowed them to remain within the circuit boundaries.
“Both cars entered Turn 4 with excessive speed and therefore neither would have been able to make the corner on track, as demonstrated by the fact that Car 44 (Hamilton) which was on the inside, had to go off track to make the corner.”
This finding is significant because it establishes that the stewards considered the corner-entry speed of both drivers excessive, rather than examining Leclerc’s off-track excursion in isolation.
However, the officials still determined that the responsibility for the illegal overtake rested with the Monegasque.
Why Leclerc’s overtaking manoeuvre warranted a penalty
The decisive factor was that Leclerc completed the move while outside the track limits. According to the stewards, his entry speed meant he was not entitled to claim the corner, regardless of the fact that Hamilton had also been unable to remain on the circuit.
The decision explained:
“Car 16 (Leclerc) was therefore not entitled to claim the corner due to the excessive entry speed. The driver then completed an overtake whilst off track and accordingly this warrants a penalty.”
The distinction matters because the stewards were not simply assessing whether Leclerc had left the circuit. Their ruling specifically concerned the combination of excessive speed, the inability to claim the corner and the completion of an overtake while off the track.
Hamilton lost momentum during the opening-lap exchange and was subsequently passed by Max Verstappen, dropping from the lead to third. Leclerc emerged ahead, but the incident immediately attracted attention from race control.
The seven-time world champion also expressed his frustration over Ferrari team radio, complaining that he had been pushed out by his teammate. The stewards subsequently investigated the manoeuvre and announced Leclerc’s five-second penalty on lap 13.
Why Leclerc received five seconds instead of the standard 10
Perhaps the most revealing part of the FIA explanation concerns the size of the penalty itself. The stewards confirmed that the baseline guideline for the infringement was 10 seconds, meaning Leclerc received a reduced sanction after mitigating circumstances were taken into account.
“The baseline penalty guideline is 10 seconds however in mitigation is the fact that car 44 was also off track on the inside of car 16 and this occurred early in the first lap.”
Two factors were therefore central to the reduction: Hamilton had also gone off the circuit on the inside, and the confrontation took place during the opening lap. The ruling does not remove Leclerc’s responsibility for gaining a position off the track. Instead, it explains why the stewards considered a five-second penalty proportionate despite identifying an infringement that ordinarily carries a more substantial sanction.
That distinction is particularly relevant because Hamilton had repeatedly questioned whether the punishment adequately addressed the consequences of the incident.
FIA explanation adds context to Hamilton’s Ferrari radio complaints
Hamilton’s dissatisfaction continued after the penalty was announced. The British driver argued that Leclerc should return the positions gained during their opening-lap confrontation rather than simply serve five seconds at a pit stop.
His reasoning focused on the advantage his teammate continued to enjoy by running in clean air at the front of the race. Hamilton believed that the penalty did not fully compensate for the different conditions faced by the drivers following behind. He subsequently criticised the stewards’ handling of the situation and referred to an agreement discussed during the pre-race drivers’ briefing.
The FIA’s written explanation now provides the reasoning behind the original decision. It confirms that the officials recognised an infringement by Leclerc but also considered Hamilton’s own off-track excursion relevant when determining the appropriate sanction.
It does not establish that the stewards agreed with Hamilton’s demand for positions to be returned. The punishment remained a five-second time penalty.
Leclerc’s penalty ultimately changes Ferrari’s Mexico GP pit-stop battle
The sanction had a direct effect on Ferrari’s race when Leclerc entered the pit lane at the end of lap 27, with Verstappen stopping at the same time.
The Monegasque had to remain stationary for five seconds before Ferrari could begin changing his tyres. That delay allowed Verstappen to complete his stop and emerge ahead, reversing their positions in the effective fight at the front.
Hamilton briefly inherited the lead before making his own pit stop on the following lap, subsequently rejoining behind Verstappen and Leclerc in the effective running order.
For Ferrari, the official stewards’ explanation clarifies why a first-lap battle between its own drivers resulted in a penalty that materially affected the contest against Red Bull.
The key finding is that both Ferrari drivers entered Turn 4 too quickly to remain on track, but Leclerc’s subsequent off-track overtake constituted the punishable infringement. Hamilton’s own excursion and the timing of the incident reduced the sanction, without removing Leclerc’s responsibility for the move.
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