LAWSON MOVES UP TO SEVENTH AS STEWARDS PENALISE LECLERC FOR COLLISION

Liam Lawson inherited seventh at Interlagos after the stewards hit Charles Leclerc with a five-second penalty for contact on lap 69. Leclerc tagged Lawson's rear-left at Juncao while setting up an overtake, then completed the pass five corners later. Minor contact, but the stewards ruled it disrupted Lawson enough to let the Ferrari close in and make the move stick. Under the Driving Standard Guidelines, Lawson had the corner; Leclerc's job was to avoid him.

Leclerc argued it was inconsequential. The stewards disagreed — the contact pulled Leclerc alongside when he'd been further back, "obvious sporting consequence" in their words. Wet conditions and the light touch earned a five-second penalty instead of ten. Lawson had complained post-race that the hit damaged his rim, and now he has the result to match.

The penalty doesn't shift the championship, but it's another data point in Lawson's case for a permanent 2027 seat.