Charles Leclerc has accepted that his five-second penalty for passing Lewis Hamilton off the circuit on the opening lap of the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix was deserved. He also explained that both Ferraris had failed to make Turn 4 and that Max Verstappen subsequently running between them influenced his thinking about immediately returning the position.
Accepting the penalty while explaining the decision
Both Ferraris went off at Turn 4 during their first-lap battle, with Leclerc crossing the grass and emerging ahead. Hamilton lost momentum and Verstappen passed him, leaving Leclerc, Verstappen and Hamilton in that order. Hamilton then expressed frustration over the radio that his team-mate retained the lead.
Speaking to Formula1.com, Leclerc described a confusing situation because neither Ferrari had made the corner properly. He said he had asked what he should do, then kept the position and took what he called a deserved penalty.
He added that he did not know whether Hamilton wanted him to drop to third. With a Red Bull already second, he felt it was worth keeping the position and seeing what happened. That is Leclerc’s explanation of his decision; it does not change the stewards’ finding of an infringement.
Why the ten-second baseline became five
The F1 report also quotes the reasoning behind the sanction: the baseline penalty guideline was ten seconds, but Hamilton’s car 44 had also been off track on the inside of Leclerc’s car 16, and the incident happened early on the first lap. Those mitigating factors reduced the penalty to five seconds.
Hamilton’s objection concerned the practical effect on the race. On the radio, he argued that the leader enjoyed clean air while those behind still had to manage, and the time penalty did not immediately return the position. That issue became a focus for Ferrari’s post-race discussions.
Leclerc said he would talk to his team-mate and the team. He also felt that, in a fight for victory, he could have grievances about their Turn 1 battle but regarded such hard racing as part of the contest. That is a driver’s view, rather than a separate stewards’ finding against Hamilton.
INKA SPORTS Analysis and Summary: A sanction does not settle the team dispute
The response shows that accepting the five-second sanction is distinct from agreeing with a team-mate’s demand for an immediate position change. The stewards established an off-track advantage and explained the mitigating factors; Leclerc identified Verstappen’s presence between the Ferraris as a consideration in keeping the lead.
Ferrari ultimately finished second with Hamilton and fourth with Leclerc, unable to turn first and third on the grid into a victory. Its discussions must address how to make consistent decisions between fighting for a win, returning a position and competing with another team. The comments do not yet establish agreement between the drivers.
