F1 Spanish GP Crash: No Further Action on Leclerc-Verstappen Clash

Formula 1 fans saw plenty of drama at the Spanish Grand Prix, especially when Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen clashed late in the race. The stewards reviewed their contact but decided not to penalize Leclerc, allowing the Ferrari driver to keep his third-place finish.

The incident happened on lap 61, just after a safety car restart when Verstappen struggled to get heat into his hard tires coming out of the final corner. Trying to defend, Verstappen drifted wide and lost momentum, which gave Leclerc a chance to pull alongside on the main straight.

As both cars raced down the stretch, they moved closer together and made light contact. Verstappen thought Leclerc should have received a penalty, but the stewards gathered data, watched videos, and heard from both drivers.

After checking the car positioning, timing, telemetry, and listening to team radio, the officials determined both Verstappen and Leclerc shared responsibility since they both moved slightly toward each other. The official statement mentioned that neither Leclerc nor Verstappen was entirely at fault.

Both drivers said afterward the collision could have been much worse, but luckily, it was only a minor hit. The stewards called it a racing incident and took no further action, so Leclerc, who finished behind the two McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, kept his podium spot.

Verstappen’s day got even tougher after getting a 10-second penalty for an earlier crash with George Russell. That dropped the Red Bull driver to 10th place at the flag and added three penalty points to his license.

Verstappen is now just one point away from a race ban, with the Austrian Grand Prix at the end of June coming up next on the calendar. The race itself included standout performances from both McLaren drivers, with Norris and Piastri taking the top two spots.

Leclerc’s third-place result meant he secured important points for Ferrari. The stewards’ quick decision on the incident kept the focus on the racing and avoided lengthy post-race arguments.

This outcome means the Spanish Grand Prix podium remains unchanged, and all eyes now turn to the next round. Verstappen will be under special scrutiny in Austria, given his current penalty situation, while Leclerc and Ferrari look to build on their positive result from Spain.

The championship remains close, and every finish is critical as the season moves forward. Fans are also watching how teams adjust their strategies, similar to how the F1 flexi wing influenced outcomes during the Spanish GP weekend.

Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.