Charles Leclerc was not penalised for the collision with Oscar Piastri during the 2026 Formula 1® Belgian Grand Prix, following a review by the FIA stewards. The incident occurred as the two drivers fought for third place at Spa-Francorchamps, with the stewards ultimately deciding the contact was a racing incident.
The clash took place on lap eight, approaching the Les Combes corner. Leclerc, driving for Ferrari, defended his position on the racing line while Piastri, in a McLaren, attempted an overtake on the outside. As the gap closed, a glancing collision damaged Piastri’s car. Piastri’s radio message expressed concern over the incident, fearing a “massive crash.”
After examining video footage and in-car camera angles, the stewards concluded that Piastri had no realistic chance to complete the overtake from the outside line. The report noted that Piastri’s front axle never moved ahead of Leclerc’s, confirming that the pass was not successfully executed. Leclerc was found not to have deliberately forced Piastri off track and was judged to have maintained his racing line throughout the manoeuvre.
Leclerc continued the race without penalty and later took advantage of a virtual safety car period to move into the lead. He eventually finished second behind Kimi Antonelli, who won the race. The stewards’ decision clarified that the incident was part of normal racing dynamics rather than a breach of regulations by Leclerc.
In a separate matter during the same Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton received a five-second penalty for a collision with George Russell and was also under investigation for an unsafe pit release. However, this did not affect the outcome of the Leclerc-Piastri incident.
The stewards’ report and race review underlined the importance of assessing overtaking attempts realistically, especially when a driver tries to pass on the outside but lacks sufficient space to complete the move safely. In this case, the decision confirmed that Leclerc’s defensive driving was within the rules and that the contact was incidental rather than intentional.
This ruling provides clarity on how defensive moves and overtaking attempts are judged in the championship, reinforcing the principle that drivers are entitled to defend their position on the racing line as long as they do not force others off track deliberately. The incident remains a clear example of the fine margins in close racing battles at a demanding circuit like Spa-Francorchamps.