Leclerc and Stroll avoid F1 penalties over Spain FP3 incidents

Charles Leclerc and Lance Stroll have avoided penalties over incidents in practice which saw both appear to drive into a competitor in Formula 1’s Spanish Grand Prix.

The first occurrence the FIA stewards were required to investigate came around a third into the session when a slow-moving Lewis Hamilton blocked Stroll at Turn 5.

Hamilton moved wide in a late attempt to provide the Aston Martin driver a clear run through the corner but Stroll then also ran deep and touched his Mercedes rival.

Meanwhile, towards the closing minutes, Leclerc was incensed when he considered that Lando Norris impeded him at Turn 5 and then swerved left into the McLaren.

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Norris came on the radio to tell his engineer “I think I’ve got damage”, as an angered Leclerc called the Briton a “F***er” as he proceeded to obstruct Max Verstappen.

The stewards were summoned on Article 33.4 of F1’s Sporting Regulations, which states a car must not be driven in a “manner which could be potentially dangerous”.

But the contingent decided that Stroll’s driving was “erratic not dangerous”, despite the Canadian admitting he “wanted to express his displeasure to the other driver”.

Leclerc was also handed a reprimand as the stewards accepted “while trying to get off the racing line, he misjudged the position of his car and made slight contact”.