Haas’ Kevin Magnussen has received a reprimand off the back of an incident with Charles Leclerc in the opening practice session for the Spanish Grand Prix.
Magnussen appeared to baulk Leclerc before moving across on his opponent as they drove down the main straight – prompting an angry response from the Sauber driver.
Stewards summoned Magnussen on a charge of “alleged impeding” and a “potentially dangerous manoeuvre”.
On the first charge, stewards deemed that Magnussen had not unnecessarily impeded Leclerc, and accepted his explanation.
Magnussen told stewards that “he had received a yellow flag at Turn 10 and had aborted his lap” and was “unaware that the flag had cleared and that Leclerc, who was immediately behind him, had not aborted his lap as he had not been in the sector when it was yellow.”
However, on the second offence, stewards deemed Magnussen’s manoeuvre was “potentially dangerous and unnecessary”, and consequently issued a reprimand.
It is Magnussen’s first reprimand of the years – drivers will receive a grid penalty should they accrue three in the course of a season.
Leclerc's team boss at Sauber, Frederic Vasseur, criticised Magnussen for his actions.
"It makes no sense to do something like this in free practice," said Vasseur. "I don’t want to say it makes sense in the race but I could understand, even if it is stupid. But in free practice, it’s just unacceptable."
