The FIA stewards clarified the reasons that led Lewis Hamilton to be penalized at the Belgian Grand Prix of Formula 1, while Charles Leclerc escaped any sanction after a similar incident at Spa-Francorchamps. The two decisions sparked debates after the race, especially due to the contrast between the cases involving the Ferrari drivers.
Read more Check the F1 2026 championship standings after the Belgian GP
Hamilton received a five-second penalty for the contact with George Russell still on the first lap. Leclerc, who was involved in contact with Oscar Piastri on the eighth lap, was found innocent after analysis by the stewards.
The incident between Hamilton and Russell happened at the exit of turn 5, when both were fighting for position side by side after the Kemmel straight. The front left wheel of Hamilton’s car hit the rear right of Russell’s Mercedes, causing a spin and the consequent retirement of the Mercedes driver.
Although Russell considered the episode a ‘racing incident’, a position shared by former F1 driver and current commentator Martin Brundle, the stewards understood that there was enough overlap for car #63 to have the right to space on the track. According to the official decision, Hamilton understeered and could not maintain the necessary separation between the cars.
“Car 44 acknowledged the presence of car 63, tried to leave appropriate space, and made a genuine attempt to avoid contact. The collision was the result of front grip loss and not an aggressive or deliberate maneuver,” the stewards stated in the report.
Read more F1: Check out the full results of the 2026 Belgian GP
The analysts also highlighted mitigating factors, such as the fact that the incident occurred on the first lap, under more congested track conditions and with less grip. Therefore, Hamilton received only a five-second penalty, instead of the ten seconds normally applied in this type of situation.
In the case of Leclerc and Piastri, the stewards concluded that the McLaren driver had not gained enough position to complete the overtake on the outside of turn 5. Furthermore, the investigation pointed out that Leclerc only followed the normal racing line by moving slightly to the left before the turn entry.
“From the stewards’ point of view, there was no realistic possibility for car 81 to complete the overtake from that position,” the official document recorded. As a result, Leclerc was cleared without any penalty, while Hamilton is still awaiting the conclusion of a second investigation for a possible unsafe release from the pits during the race.
Read more F1: Russell says he is annoyed by battery problem in Belgium: «It was dangerous»
