Why Charles Leclerc had to exit press conference early after P3 in F1 Spanish GP. Charles Leclerc left the post-race press conference early after the Spanish GP.

The podium finish secured by Charles Leclerc in the Barcelona GP came under scrutiny following an investigation regarding the Monegasque driver and Max Verstappen. The two made light contact after the Safety Car restart, with the Ferrari driver capitalizing on his tyre advantage over the four-time world champion.

The Red Bull driver had only a set of hard tyres left, which made it difficult for him to find grip when Oscar Piastri accelerated again in the closing laps. Footage showed Max Verstappen briefly losing control of his car. Leclerc took advantage and managed to overtake him, though not without risk.

Charles Leclerc at the center of the press conference
Ferrari’s number 16 car crossed paths with that of his rival, prompting the stewards to open an investigation into the incident. As a result, Charles Leclerc had to leave the post-race press conference for the top three finishers early, as he was required to report to race control to clarify the situation.

This led to Oscar Piastri making a joke to the journalists: “Please ask your questions to Charles Leclerc now because he has to see the stewards in five minutes,” said the McLaren driver.

In the end, the stewards decided not to penalize the Ferrari driver, allowing him to keep the third place he earned at Montmeló. Team Principal Vasseur was also smiling, as the result in Barcelona allowed Scuderia Ferrari to move up to second place in the Constructors’ standings despite a challenging start to the 2025 Formula 1 season.