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The opening-lap collision between Oscar Piastri, Antonelli and Leclerc at the Brazilian Grand Prix is still the talk of the paddock. The stewards handed Piastri a ten-second penalty and two penalty points, but not everyone agreed with that decision. Surprisingly, Charles Leclerc, who was directly involved in the incident, defended his rival. “The fault is not only Oscar’s,” he said. So what really happened, and how did the FIA reach its verdict?
Inside the stewards’ reasoning
According to the official report, Piastri was penalised for “failing to maintain sufficient control of his car entering Turn 1, causing contact with car 16 (Leclerc) and car 31 (Antonelli).” Onboard footage shows Piastri diving to the inside line, while Antonelli moved slightly outward to avoid Leclerc.
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The key lies in the so-called lap-one responsibility rule. During the first lap, incidents are judged more leniently because the field is still compressed. In this case, though, the stewards deemed Piastri “predominantly responsible” for braking too late and hitting two cars.
Why Leclerc offered nuance
Leclerc surprised many after the race by softening the verdict. “I don’t think Oscar was the only one at fault,” he said. “There was very little space, and I think we all took a bit too much risk. That’s Interlagos at the start.”
His view found sympathy among several drivers. Onboard angles suggested Antonelli still had a small margin on the outside, meaning the contact might have been avoidable. Within the paddock, some questioned whether the penalty was harsher simply because three cars were involved.
The FIA’s correction
Confusion arose after the race over how many penalty points Piastri now carried. Some outlets claimed ten, others eight. The FIA clarified on Monday that one earlier point from Singapore had already expired, leaving him with eight active points.
That keeps him safe for now, though with little margin for error. A small incident in Las Vegas or Abu Dhabi could still push him dangerously close to the race-ban threshold of twelve points within twelve months.
Only one driver, Romain Grosjean in 2012, has ever received an actual suspension for repeated dangerous conduct.
A pattern in 2025
Stewarding in 2025 has been notably strict. In Japan, Tsunoda escaped with only a warning for a similar move, while in Monaco Ocon was heavily penalised for a lighter touch. Consistency remains a challenge.
According to FIA sources, new lap-one contact guidelines are being prepared for 2026, including a clearer table in the Race Director Notes showing what counts as shared responsibility. The goal is to make rulings like Piastri’s more predictable.
For now, the penalty stands, but Leclerc’s measured comments reminded everyone that not every racing clash has a single culprit. In Turn 1 at Interlagos, shades of grey often decide the outcome.
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