Leclerc kept Mexico GP lead after Turn 5 cut, Ferrari lost win to Verstappen

Charles Leclerc overtook teammate Lewis Hamilton at the start of the Mexican Grand Prix and went wide at Turn 4, with both cars leaving the track. Leclerc then cut Turn 5 and stayed ahead, while Hamilton fell back behind Max Verstappen. Ferrari expected Leclerc to give the place back, but doing so would also have meant losing a position to Verstappen.

Leclerc said he cut the track because both drivers braked too late and missed the corner. He added that Max Verstappen was between the cars after Turn 5, making the situation confusing, and that Ferrari did not give clear feedback on what to do.

“The stewards are basically handing Charles this win.”

The Monegasque driver kept the lead and received a five-second penalty for exceeding track limits. He said he expected some kind of penalty and that Ferrari paid it.

Hamilton was angry on the radio, telling race engineer Carlo Santi that Leclerc should give the place back because he had clean air and did not have to manage his tyres like the others. He also said the stewards were basically handing Charles the win.

Planet F1 argued that Hamilton also shared blame for defending by pushing Leclerc off the road, and that Ferrari lost control of the race, handing victory to Verstappen. Autosport did not make this criticism.