Why Leclerc's five-second penalty handed Lawson seventh in Brazil

Charles Leclerc lost seventh place to Liam Lawson after the stewards imposed a five-second post-race penalty for their contact at the Brazilian Grand Prix. They found Leclerc responsible for causing an incident.

The pair were fighting for seventh on lap 70 of 71, with Lawson ahead as they approached Turn 12. Leclerc braked late and made contact with Lawson's VCARB, leaving him off balance. Leclerc drew alongside on the run to the start-finish line, then took seventh when Lawson ran wide at Turn 1.

Leclerc told the stewards the contact was light and had no clear sporting consequence. They acknowledged it was slight and that Lawson could in principle have stayed ahead, but concluded it disturbed Lawson and enabled Leclerc to get alongside and pass. In their view, the contact therefore had a clear sporting effect.

The stewards said Lawson reported damage to his left-rear rim and said the contact had helped Leclerc close before passing five corners later. They also said the driving standards guidelines gave Lawson the right to the corner, so Leclerc had to take steps to avoid a collision. Wet conditions and the slight contact were mitigating factors; the penalty was five seconds instead of the usual ten.