Verstappen vs Leclerc: FIA scrutiny and penalty comparisons

Max Verstappen is one penalty point away from a mandatory one-race suspension. Charles Leclerc has zero penalty points on his super license. I conclude that the FIA applies much more scrutiny to Verstappen than they do to Leclerc.

Leclerc escapes major punishment for swearing

The FIA stewards handed Charles Leclerc a €10,000 fine after the Mexico Grand Prix. They suspended €5,000 of that amount for 12 months if he repeats the offence. This decision followed Leclerc’s use of an expletive during the post-race press conference in Mexico City. He used the word to describe his experience when his car went off the track at the final corner. That moment allowed Lando Norris to take second place.

Leclerc explained his choice of words by describing the car’s behavior. He said, "I had one oversteer and then when I recovered from that oversteer, I had an oversteer from the other side and then I was like, ‘f***’." He quickly apologized to the room. He also joked, "Oh, sorry! Oh no, I don’t want to join Max." The stewards noted that Leclerc was immediately apologetic in their verdict. They also decided that his misconduct was not at the same level as the swearing Max Verstappen did in Singapore.

The stewards’ verdict stated that Leclerc used coarse language in response to a question about what he said to himself during a significant moment near the end of the race. They defined this as misconduct under Article 20 of the International Sporting Code and a breach of Article 12.2.1.k. Leclerc expressed regret for his lack of judgment and noted his responsibility as a role model. The FIA president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, recently increased the crackdown on such language. Verstappen previously received a community service penalty for his own use of the word in Singapore.

Verstappen loses position in Brazil sprint

Max Verstappen finished fourth in the Brazilian Grand Prix sprint race. This result follows a five-second penalty from the FIA. The investigation focused on a breach of the Virtual Safety Car rules. Verstappen was 0.63 seconds below the minimum time when the FIA light panels changed to green at Turn 4. This action allowed him to gain a sporting advantage. The stewards noted that he attempted to correct the error but failed before the panels turned green.

This penalty dropped Verstappen from third to fourth in the final classification. It also placed him behind Charles Leclerc. The penalty added one more point to his total. He now has seven penalty points accrued over the last 12 months. You already know the championship battle is tight, so look at the regulatory side.

The struggle to avoid a race ban

Verstappen must keep his driving clean to avoid a one-race suspension. He has 11 penalty points on his super license. Any driver who reaches 12 points within a 12-month period faces a ban. His current points come from several different incidents throughout the season. He earned 3 points in the Spanish Grand Prix for a collision with George Russell. He earned 2 points in Mexico for forcing Lando Norris off the track.

His recent points include 1 point for the Virtual Safety Car breach in Brazil. He also received 1 point for driving unnecessarily slowly in Qatar. A 2-point penalty came from an incident with Oscar Piastri in Abu Dhabi. Earlier in the year, he earned 2 points in the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix for a collision with Lando Norris. He also received 2 points in Mexico for a different incident with Norris.

Comparison of driver conduct penalties

The FIA stewards show different levels of leniency depending on the incident. In Spain, the stewards issued reprimands to both Lance Stroll and Charles Leclerc. Stroll hit the sidepod of Lewis Hamilton in the final practice session. Leclerc caused contact with Lando Norris when he pulled across the racing lane. The stewards described both moves as erratic. They did not issue any financial or sporting penalties for these actions.

This contrasts with the treatment of Verstappen. In Spain, the stewards gave Verstappen 3 penalty points for a collision with George Russell. They classified his action as causing a collision with no immediate sporting consequence. In Mexico, Verstappen received two 10-second penalties and two penalty points for wheel-to-wheel battles with Lando Norris.

The FIA recently updated its driving standards to provide more clarity. The new guidelines aim for transparency and consistency. They define how overtakers should behave. An inside move requires the front axle to be alongside the defender’s mirror before the apex. An outside move requires even positioning at the apex. The rules also state that a driver cannot weave under braking. Will the FIA continue to prioritize driver apologies over the severity of on-track incidents?

Ferrari technical struggles and Leclerc’s pressure

Leclerc faces immense pressure within the Scuderia Ferrari team. The 2025 SF-25 car had an inherent flaw. The rear suspension collapsed under aerodynamic load. This issue caused both Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton to be disqualified at the Chinese Grand Prix. The team had to increase the ride height to mitigate this. This change reduced the speed and driveability of the car.

Leclerc told The Athletic that qualifying was difficult because pushing the car to the limit with low fuel was hard. This technical struggle follows a period of turmoil for the team. Team principal Frederic Vasseur had a heated discussion with a trackside engineer after the Singapore GP qualifying. Reports suggest that Leclerc’s judgment of the SF-25 made engineers and mechanics unhappy.

The team is also dealing with a massive gap in the standings. Kimi Antonelli leads the Constructors’ Standings with 320 points. George Russell has 236 points. Lewis Hamilton has 214 points. Leclerc has 191 points. Lando Norris has 188 points. Max Verstappen also has 188 points. Ferrari is trying to rebuild internally to give Leclerc a chance at the top.

Verstappen’s fight for the title in Brazil

Verstappen is fighting for a fourth world title in difficult conditions. He sits 36 points behind Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. He produced a strong drive in the wet conditions at Interlagos. He started the race in 16th place after a grid penalty. He took the lead of the race following a red flag.

His performance has earned praise from former drivers. Sergio Perez said Verstappen is the sensation of the year. He noted that Verstappen has managed to turn the season around. Gerhard Berger also said Verstappen has maintained a high level with few mistakes. Red Bull advisor Dr. Helmut Marko believes the title remains possible if the team has nerves of steel.

The weather remains a factor in the championship fight. The forecast for Sunday includes rain. Nelson Piquet Jr. said he hopes for rain to make the race exciting. This weather could help Verstappen, who enjoys the circuit. However, the Red Bull car has struggled against the dominant McLaren duo this year.

Driving standards and the FIA’s role

The FIA has changed how it polices on-track behavior. This follows a meeting between the FIA and drivers at the Qatar Grand Prix last year. The goal is to ensure transparency and clarity. The guidelines are not enforceable regulations but they guide the stewards. They include a three-strikes system for track limits during races.

The stewards assess incidents holistically. They consider things like late braking, tyre condition, and track layout. They also look at whether a driver’s action was dangerous or merely erratic. In the Spanish Grand Prix practice, the stewards decided that the contact between Stroll and Hamilton was incidental. They also ruled that Leclerc’s contact with Norris was erratic rather than dangerous.

This approach has caused debate among pundits. Former driver Johnny Herbert criticized Verstappen’s mindset in battle. He described his actions against Norris as an absolute no no. Other former drivers, like Christian Alberst, believe the FIA should leave the policing of on-track behavior to the drivers themselves. Verstappen’s father, Jos Verstappen, has claimed the FIA has a bias against his son. He suggested the FIA should look at the composition of the stewards to avoid conflicts of interest.