The FIA stewards have ruled the collision between Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen during the F1 Spanish Grand Prix as a racing incident, deciding no penalties were warranted. The contact occurred on the start-finish straight shortly after the Safety Car restart, when both drivers were battling closely for position.
Verstappen struggled for grip on his hard tyres exiting the final corner, allowing Leclerc to close in. As the two approached Turn 1 side-by-side, their cars made minor contact. Despite the touch, Leclerc moved ahead to secure third place, while Verstappen had to defend against George Russell.
Reason Behind the Steward’s Decision to Avoid Sanctions
The FIA explained that Verstappen, driving car number 1, lost traction at Turn 14, forcing him to defend his racing line as Leclerc, in car number 16, attempted an overtake on the straight. Both cars converged slightly in the center of the track, causing a small collision.
Although both drivers acknowledged that the incident could have been avoided and carried risk of a larger crash, the stewards concluded that neither was fully or predominantly responsible for the contact.
“In the circumstances, we took no further action.”
—FIA Stewards
This judgment allowed Leclerc to retain his podium finish, marking his third top-three result of the season. Verstappen, however, finished in 10th place after receiving a separate 10-second penalty relating to a collision involving George Russell.
Verstappen’s Penalty and Rosberg’s Reaction
The Dutch driver was penalized following an incident with Russell, which occurred after Verstappen initially attempted to concede position. Verstappen had been ordered by Red Bull to let Russell pass after being pushed wide at Turn 1, but as he complied, the two collided again at Turn 5.
The stewards assessed Verstappen’s actions as deliberate, leading to the time penalty. This decision sparked criticism from former 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg, who stated that Verstappen should have faced disqualification for the incident.
Implications for the Championship and Next Steps
With Leclerc maintaining his third-place finish, the driver continues to strengthen his standing in the championship battle. Verstappen’s penalty and the FIA’s rulings highlight the tension and close competition among top drivers, with incidents on track influencing race outcomes and season momentum.
The decisions emphasize the stewards‘ cautious approach in differentiating between racing incidents and punishable infractions, an aspect that will remain under scrutiny as the season progresses. Fans and teams alike await further developments, especially regarding how such tight racing moments will be managed in upcoming Grands Prix.