Leclerc and Lawson exchange places
Post-race rulings at the 2026 Sao Paulo Grand Prix penalised Charles Leclerc for contact with Liam Lawson, and Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman for unsafe releases. The final classification places Lawson seventh and Leclerc eighth. Antonelli remains fifth and Bearman seventeenth.
Leclerc contacted Lawson’s left-rear wheel at Turn 12 during their late battle for seventh. The stewards found that Lawson had the right to the corner. They concluded that the contact disrupted him and helped Leclerc close sufficiently to make the subsequent pass. Lawson initially stayed ahead after the contact; Leclerc passed him five corners later.
They rejected the argument that the minor contact had no sporting consequence. Wet conditions and its limited severity nevertheless mitigated the sanction from ten seconds to five. Lawson had finished less than two seconds behind, so the added time reversed their order.
Two unsafe releases without a position change
Mercedes released Antonelli as Franco Colapinto approached in the fast lane. The ruling noted Antonelli’s momentary loss of control on the slippery surface and the avoidance needed to prevent contact. Mercedes acknowledged that the release could have been safer.
Bearman’s release put him into Leclerc’s path. The Ferrari driver had to brake and take evasive action near the pit wall. Bearman also received five seconds, but both he and Antonelli retained sufficient margins over the next cars.
The final classification gives Leclerc four points and Hamilton two, a Ferrari total of six; Mercedes retains 22. Antonelli still leads Piastri by 15.458 seconds after the penalty.
