There was a controversial moment during practice for the Spanish Grand Prix when Charles Leclerc appeared to collide with Lando Norris on purpose.
The Ferrari driver was on a timed lap during the third practice session ahead of qualifying when he encountered Norris driving slowly on the racing line into Turn 7.
This is a critical part of the circuit that enables drivers to line their car up for the sweeping left-right section at Turns 7 and 8, before they reach the fast right-hander of Turn 9. Leclerc had to back out of his effort and voiced his frustration over team radio with an expletive.
As he pulled up alongside Norris he drifted into the path of his McLaren and the pair made contact, causing front-wing damage for the Briton. Leclerc later claimed he “misjudged” the position of Norris and that it was not intentional.
The stewards investigated the incident and gave him a reprimand afterwards, but Peter Windsor believes it required more action when speaking on the Cameron F1 podcast.
Peter Windsor hits out at FIA stewards
Windsor felt the FIA stewards set a bad precedent by letting Leclerc off the hook and likened it to an incident that occurred behind the Safety Car during the 2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix between Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel.
“What was all that business with Lando Norris at the end of FP3? He drove into Lando deliberately. He only got a reprimand which is ludicrous,” said Windsor.
“One of the most dangerous things you can do is encourage that, not that specific incident, but to encourage that sort of behaviour by senior Grand Prix drivers is the worst possible message we can give to the next generation. For him to only get a reprimand is as bad as giving Sebastian Vettel a wrap on the knuckles for driving into Hamilton behind the Safety Car.”
Why did Charles Leclerc only get a reprimand?
The stewards investigated Leclerc for breach of Article 33.4 of the F1 Sporting Regulations, which states: “At no time may a car be driven unnecessarily slowly, erratically or in a manner which could be deemed potentially dangerous to other drivers or any other person.”
After Leclerc told them he “misjudged” the position of his car, the stewards felt that “irrespective of any possible intent” the move was not “dangerous” but considered “erratic” under the previous precedents for similar incidents.
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This is what led to him getting a reprimand rather than any severe penalty, which is his first of the season. Drivers can accrue four driving reprimands in a season before a fifth triggers an automatic 10-place grid penalty.
Lance Stroll was also handed a reprimand for erratic driving for a similar collision with Lewis Hamilton during the same practice session.
The post ‘Worst possible message’: Peter Windsor hits out at ‘ludicrous’ FIA stewards decision at Spanish GP appeared first on F1 Oversteer.