Leclerc keeps Mexico GP lead after cutting Turn 5

Did Leclerc really earn his Mexico GP lead by cutting Turn 5? The Ferrari star broke down his bold move that let him snatch and hold the advantage over Hamilton.

At the start, Leclerc challenged pole‑sitter Hamilton but was held back through the opening corners. He then dove to the outside of Turn 4, both cars drifting off‑track after the apex.

Hamilton re‑joined ahead of Max Verstappen, while Leclerc clipped Turn 5 and stayed in front. Though he exceeded the limits, giving the car back would have handed the Red Bull driver the lead.

Ultimately Leclerc kept the front spot, later receiving a five‑second penalty for the breach.

‘Lewis and I both braked late and missed the corner; I clearly cut the track,’ Leclerc admitted.

‘After Turn 5 Max was in between, adding confusion. Team feedback was vague, so I stayed out, expecting a penalty that eventually came,’ he said.

‘We asked the team what to do. Should I drop to second or third? I kept racing,’ he explained, noting the incident will dominate the next briefing.

Hamilton fumed on radio to engineer Carlo Santi, claiming Leclerc had clean air and should give the place back, adding the stewards were essentially awarding him the win.

Despite the controversy, the clash highlights growing friction inside Ferrari. In my view, the intra‑team tension is hurting their title chances.

Asked about Ferrari’s rules of engagement, the 29‑year‑old downplayed it: ‘We’re fighting for victory, so margins are tight. Both of us erred into Turn 4, no contact, and that let Max pass.’

‘It shouldn’t dominate the narrative. Turns 1‑3 were tight, as expected in a lead battle. Turn 5 saw a mistake; I took a penalty, and Lewis also lost ground to Max,’ he said.

When pressed on future regulations, Leclerc said, ‘We’ll discuss it. He may be upset, but both of us pushed the limits. The handling of Turns 4‑5 and the penalty will be reviewed.’

After the penalty, Leclerc tried to distance Verstappen, shrinking the gap to 5.243 seconds by lap 24, but Verstappen’s pit stop erased the advantage.

The extra 6.3‑second stop cost Leclerc, leaving Verstappen 1.3 seconds ahead after penalties, allowing the four‑time champion to reclaim the lead.

Leclerc’s race worsened on the second restart after Bottas’s red flag, when a heavy lock‑up damaged the SF‑26’s tyres, especially the front‑left.

‘We had good pace, but the second restart proved far tougher,’ he lamented.

‘Marbles gathered on the right; even light braking locked the wheels and shredded the tyre edge, making the final stint a nightmare,’ he added.

Consequently Leclerc finished fourth, marking his sixth straight top‑four result.

Photos from F1 Mexican GP – Sunday

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