Formula 1 is not supposed to be a contact sport. But given how often drivers are called up to see the stewards after coming together on the track, you’d be forgiven for thinking otherwise.
In theory, no collision or infraction should be treated any differently depending on what position was being contested at the time or what the consequences of the offence were. Whether the result was one driver, or both, being forced into retirement or if there was seemingly no damage or impediment, the stewards must still apportion blame and hand out penalties if deemed necessary.
However, as hard to imagine as it might be, the views of F1’s fans can sometimes vary from those of the four individuals that make up the event’s stewards panel.
But how do the views of RaceFans readers compare with the stewards’ decisions made over the second quarter of the 2025 season? Have they always called it right, or were there times that they got it wrong? Here’s a look at the incidents between the Miami Grand Prix and the British Grand Prix.
- Which penalty calls did F1’s stewards get right – and wrong – in 2025? Part one
- 2025 Formula 1 drivers’ penalties and investigations index
- Formula 1 drivers’ penalty points record
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Monaco Grand Prix
Gasly: Reprimanded for collision with Tsunoda
Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda became fast friends as AlphaTauri team mates, but things got awkward in Monaco when Gasly retired from the race after running into the back of the Red Bull driver on lap nine of the grand prix approaching the harbour chicane.
Despite Alpine arguing that Tsunoda had failed to leave a car’s width for Gasly and had been moving under braking, the stewards noted that Gasly had locked his rear brakes slightly and determined he was “wholly or predominantly” to blame for the clash, handing him a reprimand as there was “no immediate or obvious sporting consequence” for Tsunoda.
How should the stewards have ruled on the Gasly-Tsunoda collision?
- No opinion (4%)
- Strong penalty for Tsunoda (4%)
- Light penalty for Tsunoda (2%)
- No penalty for either driver (24%)
- Light penalty for Gasly (59%)
- Strong penalty for Gasly (7%)
Total Voters: 46
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Russell: Drive-through penalty for cutting the chicane and passing Albon
The unique requirement of this year’s Monaco Grand Prix to run three separate tyre sets during the race forced all drivers to pit twice during the 78 laps. As a consequence, some teams exploited the lack of overtaking opportunities around the street circuit to deliberately slow down one of their cars to build space for their team mates ahead to pit into.
This proved desperately frustrating for several drivers, not least of which George Russell. Stuck behind the Williams of Alexander Albon in 11th place, Russell became increasingly agitated about being held up and lost his patience on lap 50, appearing to deliberately cut across the harbour chicane to move ahead of the Williams and into clear air. Russell claimed to his team over the radio that he had been avoiding a collision and when he was directed to return the place he refused, informing the team he would prefer to take the penalty instead.
The stewards quickly punished Russell, although they gave the Mercedes the harsher punishment of a drive-through penalty, rather than the usual 10 seconds. The stewards noted that drivers had been warned by race director Rui Marques prior to the race that any such instances of deliberately cutting the track to overtake would receive a harsher than usual penalty.
Russell’s penalty for cutting the chicane was:
Spanish Grand Prix
Leclerc and Verstappen: No action over pit straight restart collision
A late-race Safety Car period in Catalunya sparked several controversial incidents that dominated discussion following the Spanish Grand Prix. Max Verstappen pitted when the Safety Car was deployed and had fresh hard tyres fitted to his Red Bull. This appeared to leave him lacking in traction as the race resumed, causing him to catch a major snap of oversteer on the exit of the final corner, coming to the green flag.
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Charles Leclerc immediately pounced by drawing alongside Verstappen in his Ferrari. But as the pair ran side-by-side down the pit straight, they got increasingly closer to each other before the two cars made slight contact at 300kph. There was no direct consequence of note from the clash, but it was still investigated after the race.
After speaking to both drivers, the stewards determined that “this was an avoidable collision and could potentially have resulted in a major crash,” but ruled that “neither driver was wholly or predominantly to blame”, taking no further action.
How should the stewards have ruled on the Verstappen-Leclerc collision?
- No opinion (0%)
- Strong penalty for Verstappen (6%)
- Light penalty for Verstappen (6%)
- No penalty for either driver (73%)
- Light penalty for Leclerc (14%)
- Strong penalty for Leclerc (0%)
Total Voters: 49
Verstappen: 10s time penalty for collision with Russell
The most controversial moment of the 2025 season so far. After being overtaken by Leclerc and then attacked by Russell into the first corner at the restart, Verstappen ran off through the turn two escape road following minor contact with the Mercedes driver to his inside at the apex.
Although the contact with Russell meant that, according to the driving standards guidelines, Verstappen was entitled to retain his position despite running off track, Red Bull advised their driver to relinquish the place to the Mercedes.
Verstappen was audibly frustrated over team radio at the situation, but complied with the order to let Russell through at the exit of turn four. However, as Russell passed to the outside, Verstappen applied almost 80% throttle and then braked later into turn five than he did on any other lap using the hard tyres. As a result, he ran deep into the left-hand turn and collided with Russell. Both cars continued without appearing to have suffered serious damage, with Verstappen eventually allowing Russell through shortly after.
Soon after the chequered flag fell, Verstappen was handed a 10-second time penalty for causing a collision and handed the world champion three penalty points on his superlicence, leaving him on 11 – just one shy of a race ban. In the stewards’ view, the clash was “undoubtedly caused by the actions of car one [Verstappen]”.
Verstappen’s penalty for colliding with Russell was:
- No opinion (0%)
- Far too lenient (66%)
- Slightly too lenient (18%)
- Correct (13%)
- Slightly too harsh (1%)
- Far too harsh (2%)
Total Voters: 274
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Canadian Grand Prix
Norris: 5s time penalty for causing a collision with Piastri
In the closing laps of the Canadian Grand Prix, Lando Norris was putting pressure on McLaren team mate Oscar Piastri, looking to take his fourth place from him. On lap 66, the pair ran side-by-side along the back straight heading into the final chicane, with Piastri holding off the other McLaren.
Norris got a run on Piastri along the pit straight entering lap 67 and appeared to look to sneak to the left to acquire the inside line for the first true corner of turn two to complete the pass. However, Piastri held firm in his inside line and the space Norris seemed to be hoping to appear never did. Norris collided with the rear of the other McLaren, then hit the pit wall, ending his race. Piastri continued.
Even before meeting the stewards to discuss the incident, Norris accepted full responsibility for the accident over team radio before climbing out of the car. The stewards shared this view, deciding that Norris was “solely to blame” for the collision. As Piastri’s car was observed to be undamaged and the clash had “no immediate and obvious sporting consequence” for the surviving McLaren, the stewards handed Norris a five-second time penalty, which was applied to his finishing time as he was still classified in the race results. Norris did not receive a penalty point for the clash.
Norris’s penalty for his collision with Piastri in Montreal was:
Russell and Verstappen: No action for alleged Safety Car incident
Soon after the collision between the two McLarens effectively brought an end to the Canadian Grand Prix behind the Safety Car, there was another controversial incident that would provoke plenty of discussion after the chequered flag – including in the stewards’ room.
Race leader Russell was picked up by the Safety Car, with Verstappen sitting behind the Mercedes in second as he had for the majority of the race. But as they both ran in order behind the Safety Car approaching the final chicane, Russell braked in an apparent effort to keep heat into his brakes and Verstappen moved briefly ahead of the Mercedes.
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Russell reported Verstappen to his team as having overtaken him under the Safety Car. Verstappen accused the Mercedes of braking aggressively. The Red Bull quickly resumed its correct position in the order and race control did not note the incident.
After the race, Red Bull lodged two separate protests against Russell for his actions under the Safety Car. They withdrew one (which alleged Russell had dropped more than 10 car lengths behind the Safety Car on other occasions) while the stewards ruled on the other.
After listening to both drivers and their teams, the stewards dismissed Red Bull’s appeal and their claims that Russell had “driven erratically” and had “displayed unsportsmanlike behaviour” by reporting Verstappen for moving ahead of him under the Safety Car. The stewards were satisfied that the Mercedes driver had not exhibited either.
Should Russell or Verstappen have been penalised for their incident behind the Safety Car in Canada?
Update: The FIA has today issued F1’s 2025 racing and penalty points guidelines in full which give more insight into how these decisions were made
Debates and polls
- Has Formula 1’s calendar changed for the better or worse in the 21st century?
- “They love wasting laps”: Should F1 stop letting lapped drivers pass the Safety Car?
- Poll: Are Briatore or Symonds welcome in F1 so long after Crashgate?
- Doohan out, Colapinto in: Have Alpine made the right call?
- Which penalty calls did the stewards get right – or wrong – over the first five rounds?