At the 2026 Formula 1® Mexico Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc received a five-second time penalty for overtaking Lewis Hamilton off track during the opening lap. The FIA stewards clarified the reasons behind this decision, providing insight into the incident that unfolded at Turn 4.
Leclerc started the race from third on the grid, while Hamilton was on pole position. As the race began, both drivers contested the lead closely. At Turn 4 on the first lap, Leclerc passed Hamilton by going off the track limits. According to the drivers’ briefing, Leclerc was expected to return the position by Turn 12, but he did not comply.
The FIA stewards explained that both drivers entered Turn 4 at excessive speed, which made it impossible to stay within the track boundaries. Hamilton also went off track on the inside line during the same corner. Given these circumstances, the stewards judged Leclerc’s off-track overtake as a breach of the rules. While the baseline penalty for such an infringement is typically 10 seconds, it was reduced to five seconds in this case due to mitigating factors, including Hamilton’s own off-track excursion and the early stage of the race.
Despite the penalty, Leclerc maintained the race lead and managed to build a gap to Max Verstappen, who was running behind him. However, after the pit stops, Verstappen took the virtual lead. Lewis Hamilton expressed dissatisfaction with the penalty, describing it as too lenient and insisting that Leclerc should have returned the position as required.
The race later saw a red flag on lap 46 following a crash involving Valtteri Bottas. At that point, Verstappen was leading, followed by Leclerc in second and Kimi Antonelli in third. Hamilton dropped to fourth place after pitting under the safety car.
This explanation from the FIA stewards sheds light on the application of track limits and overtaking rules in the early laps of a Grand Prix, particularly when both drivers are pushing the limits of control. The decision balanced the circumstances of both drivers’ off-track actions and the timing within the race.