Leclerc handed five-second penalty for Lawson contact in Brazil

Charles Leclerc has received a five-second time penalty for causing contact with Liam Lawson at the Brazilian Grand Prix. The penalty drops Leclerc behind Lawson to eighth in the final classification.

The incident occurred as the pair exited Juncao, with Leclerc on the inside line and rubbing wheels with his Racing Bulls rival. Lawson said he believed the Ferrari driver's wing had hit his tyre, adding that the move resembled an earlier manoeuvre by Leclerc in GP2. Max Verstappen had described the contact as racing.

The FIA stewards concluded that Leclerc made contact with Lawson at Turn 12. They found the contact was minor but said it disrupted Lawson and allowed Leclerc to close up and eventually overtake him.