Martin Brundle criticizes FIA after Mexico GP: “Leclerc and Verstappen should have been punished”. Martin Brundle harshly criticized Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen after the chaotic start of the Mexican GP.

Chaos reigned at Turn 1 during the Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix, and according to former driver and Sky Sports commentator Martin Brundle, both Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen should have received penalties for their actions at the start.

The “lawnmower race,” as some described it, began with a messy first corner that left fans and analysts unimpressed. Both the Ferrari driver and the Red Bull champion cut through the opening chicane of the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, though for different reasons. Verstappen gave back the positions he gained, but Leclerc held on to second place, angering Lewis Hamilton in the process.

The Mexican Grand Prix has long had a “Turn 1 problem.” The long run down the main straight is thrilling but chaotic, largely due to the wide run-off area beyond the first chicane — a stretch of green grass that many drivers prefer to cross when battling for position or trying to avoid contact. The problem is that it often comes without any real consequences.

Both Charles Leclerc’s and Max Verstappen’s cases stood out. Ferrari’s number 16, side by side with his teammate at the start, lost control of the SF-25 and decided to cut across the grass before rejoining the track. Once back on, he didn’t surrender second place to Lewis Hamilton, who repeatedly questioned his team over the radio about the situation. Max Verstappen, on the other hand, went off even earlier, launching onto the grass before even turning in — and nearly clipping the opposite barriers.

Brundle: “Leclerc and Verstappen should have been penalized, enough with these jokes”

As the Formula 1 paddock debates whether changes should be made to the layout of Turn 1 in Mexico, Martin Brundle has called on the FIA stewards to act. Speaking on Sky Sports UK’s post-race podcast, the former driver said both Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen deserved penalties. According to Martin Brundle, Charles Leclerc should have received a 10-second penalty, while Max Verstappen’s maneuver warranted a drive-through.

“Leclerc at least tried to make the corner,” Martin Brundle argued, “but Verstappen simply didn’t bother.” He suggested that the FIA could implement a slow-speed return zone — a designated area with a mandatory speed limit for drivers who go off — saying it would be “as effective as Monaco’s walls.”