Charles Leclerc hit with Brazil GP penalty for Liam Lawson collision
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Charles Leclerc has been demoted from seventh to eighth place in the final classification of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix following a five-second time penalty. Race officials determined that the Ferrari driver gained an unfair advantage after making contact with Liam Lawson during a late-race battle at the Juncao corner.
Although Leclerc finished the 71-lap event 1.816 seconds ahead of his rival, the stewards ruled that the collision damaged the Racing Bulls car and directly facilitated the subsequent overtake. The penalty promotes Lewis Hamilton to eighth, while Leclerc slips behind his teammate in the final order.
Leclerc initially defended the maneuver as hard racing, though he acknowledged he was unaware of the investigation until after the checkered flag.