Charles Leclerc picked up a five-second penalty after passing Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton at the start of the Mexico City Grand Prix.

Leclerc, who started third, initially attacked Hamilton at the first chicane after powering past Mercedes’ George Russell.

Hamilton saw off the first offensive, but Leclerc then tried a move around the outside of turn four. Both Ferrari drivers left the track, and Max Verstappen snatched P2.

Charles Leclerc’s attempted pass on Lewis Hamilton was too ‘bold’

Reviewing the replays on Sky Sports F1, Nico Rosberg, Hamilton’s former teammate, initially ruled that Leclerc was entitled to keep the lead.

However, he ‘changed his mind’ after realising that Leclerc ‘braked way too late’, which meant he was never going to make the corner. On that basis, the eventual penalty seemed fair.

“Leclerc was a bit too aggressive there [at turns one and two], I’d have to say,” said Rosberg. “Leclerc was ahead going in, I think you’ve got to keep it now.”

He then added: “The problem is that, Leclerc was only ahead on the outside because he just braked way too late… wow, this is a tough one.

“[…] My final verdict is that Leclerc would deserve to lose a bit of race time and probably get a five-second penalty. I’ve changed my mind! I think I would go for that now.

“[10 seconds] would be too much, especially because Lewis also went off. I think five would probably be the fairest at the moment.”

Over on BBC Radio 5 Live, Damon Hill hinted Leclerc was driving frustrated after Hamilton took Ferrari’s first pole of 2026 on Saturday. The 29-year-old had been on provisional pole before dropping to third on the final runs.

Hill agreed with Rosberg’s assessment that Leclerc’s move was too ‘bold’, and thinks Ferrari will come to the same conclusion.

“That’s high aggression there from Charles Leclerc,” said Hill. “He’s clearly very put out that Lewis got pole position yesterday, and he put everything in jeopardy by trying this very, very bold manoeuvre around the outside of Lewis Hamilton there.

“I think Ferrari will be wondering what the hell he’s playing at.”

The FIA had warned before the race that they would police first-lap corner-cutting more harshly this year. Drivers who gained an advantage until turn four were given until turn 12 to return the place, but Verstappen’s pass on Hamilton complicated matters in this case.

Verstappen told Red Bull over the radio that Leclerc was required to concede the lead. It eventually changed hands when the pair pitted simultaneously.