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Charles Leclerc

Charles Leclerc surprisingly avoids Belgian GP penalty

This is a surprise given the driving standards guidelines.

Charles Leclerc surprisingly avoided joining Lewis Hamilton in being handed a five-second time penalty by the Belgian Grand Prix stewards.

Hamilton was initially penalised for causing a collision with former Mercedes team-mate Hamilton on the opening lap through the Les Combes chicane.

Several laps later, McLaren's Oscar Piastri was attempting to pass Leclerc at the end of the Kemmel Straight and on the entry to Les Combes.

With Piastri almost alongside, Leclerc appeared to marginally shuffle across, not leaving a car's width, as dictated by the driving standards guidelines.

It led to the two cars colliding, and a part of the floor being ripped off the McLaren.

Following an investigation by the stewards, though, they determined the incident did not warrant a penalty, much to the surprise of Sky Sports F1 co-commentator Martin Brundle, who felt it warranted a sanction.

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