![\"Stewards](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/XPB_1421626_HiRes.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc battling in Belgium. Image: XPB Images<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc battling in Belgium. Image: XPB Images<\/p>\n
The incident was among the key topics discussed during a scheduled meeting between the drivers and FIA stewards ahead of this weekend\u2019s Hungarian Grand Prix.<\/p>\n
Leclerc and Piastri made contact while fighting over third place at Les Combes on Lap 8 at Spa-Francorchamps, with the Ferrari moving across as the Australian attempted to challenge around the outside.<\/p>\n
Piastri was squeezed towards the edge of the circuit before the cars touched wheels at the beginning of the braking zone, leaving the McLaren with floor damage that affected it for the remainder of the race.<\/p>\n
The stewards investigated the contact but took no further action after determining Piastri had no realistic possibility of completing the overtake and Leclerc had followed the normal racing line.<\/p>\n
However, The Race reported the stewards reconsidered the incident following feedback from the drivers during Thursday night\u2019s meeting at the Hungaroring.<\/p>\n
The consensus was that any repeat of Leclerc\u2019s move would likely result in a five-second penalty, marking a change from how the incident was judged at Spa.<\/p>\n
Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft offered a stronger account of the discussion during coverage of opening practice in Hungary, claiming the stewards had accepted Leclerc should have been sanctioned.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Charles Leclerc incident at Turn 5, the stewards actually admitted on second thoughts that he deserved a penalty,\u201d Croft said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the consensus was, it needs a re-think for next time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Former Formula 1 driver Anthony Davidson was unequivocal in his assessment and argued Piastri had been placed in a position from which he could no longer avoid contact.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was 100 percent \u2013 100 percent \u2013 a penalty,\u201d Davidson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cPiastri was in a position he couldn\u2019t back out of. Once you are in that position where you can\u2019t back out of it, and contact is made when the car on the defensive line is supposed to give a car\u2019s width, but they make contact with you, it\u2019s a no-brainer.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t believe he didn\u2019t get a penalty.\u201d<\/p>\n
The original stewards\u2019 ruling stated Piastri\u2019s front axle had not moved ahead of Leclerc\u2019s and concluded the Ferrari driver had not deliberately crowded his rival beyond the circuit boundary.<\/p>\n
After the race, Piastri argued Leclerc should at least have been shown the black-and-white flag for the incident, although he stopped short of demanding a penalty.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom where I was at, I was on the white line and got squeezed,\u201d Piastri said at Spa.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we were firstly very lucky not to have a bigger crash because, you know, we touched wheels in the start of the braking zone basically.\u201d<\/p>\n