The FIA has come under scrutiny following the 2025 Mexican Grand Prix after several drivers went off track at the opening corners without receiving penalties. George Russell and Fernando Alonso were among those who voiced their dissatisfaction, questioning the consistency of the stewards’ decisions.
On the first lap at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, six drivers — Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, Oscar Piastri, Liam Lawson, Carlos Sainz, and Russell — ran wide through the escape area between Turns 1 and 3 amid heavy traffic. Despite multiple cars cutting the chicane, none were formally investigated.
Pole-sitter Lando Norris led the field into Turn 1 alongside Lewis Hamilton, Leclerc, and Verstappen. Verstappen, taking the outside line, braked late and went straight across the grass before rejoining the circuit. Behind them, Russell and Piastri also overshot, while Leclerc briefly left the track at Turn 2 before returning to the racing line.
Leclerc initially emerged ahead but handed the lead back to Norris, though not to Hamilton, who was also involved in the sequence. Verstappen, too, appeared to yield one position but retained track advantage.
Race Control noted the first-lap incidents but chose not to escalate them to the stewards, classifying the matter as “recorded” — a decision that sparked debate among drivers and teams.
Hamilton was the only driver penalised for exceeding track limits during the race, receiving a 10-second penalty for leaving the circuit at Turn 4 on lap six while staying ahead of Verstappen.
Russell:
“Do your job!”
Russell was particularly vocal about Verstappen’s off-track excursion, accusing the Red Bull driver of gaining an unfair advantage. Over team radio, the Mercedes driver demanded a review of the move.
“Verstappen braked too late, went through the grass and kept his position,” Russell said. “At the very least, he should have given the place back.”
When his engineer responded with a brief “OK,” Russell’s frustration escalated. “They’re running on the grass and keeping their places — how can that not be a penalty?” he exclaimed. “Damn it, do your job! ‘Recorded’ isn’t good enough.”
After the race, Russell continued to voice his discontent, arguing that the leniency had affected the outcome of his race. “Max went completely through the grass, and one of the Ferraris did the same,” he said. “If there’s no consequence, everyone will start doing it. The drivers who stick to the rules are the ones who lose out.”
Alonso:
“Second race in a row they’ve ignored it”
Fernando Alonso echoed Russell’s criticism, pointing out that Sainz and Lawson appeared to gain positions by cutting through the opening sequence of corners.
“I made a good start and was aggressive into Turn 1. But then in Turns 2 and 3, a few cars went straight through and came back several positions ahead of where they were. That’s not fair racing.”
Alonso suggested that the FIA’s approach was inconsistent, referencing similar complaints from the previous round. “This is the second race in a row where the stewards have turned a blind eye to first-lap corner cuts,” he said. “It’s something we’ll remember for the next races.”
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FIA response and precedent
The FIA has not issued a statement addressing the specific incidents in Mexico. In recent seasons, the governing body has typically taken a lenient approach to first-lap racing incidents, particularly in opening-corner scenarios where space is limited and contact risk is high.
However, several drivers have argued that this leniency creates confusion about what constitutes a fair recovery after leaving the track. The FIA’s own sporting regulations state that a driver must not gain a lasting advantage by leaving the circuit — a rule interpreted variably depending on context.
Sunday’s controversy reignited ongoing debate within the paddock about the consistency of stewarding decisions, particularly regarding track limits and position gains off-track.
Race results and standings
Lando Norris continued his dominant season with a flag-to-flag victory, extending his championship lead for McLaren. Charles Leclerc finished second for Ferrari, while Max Verstappen completed the podium for Red Bull.
Russell eventually finished outside the top five, while Alonso crossed the line eighth.
The Formula 1 season now moves to Brazil, with the São Paulo Grand Prix scheduled for November 7–9 at the Interlagos Circuit. The FIA is expected to review the first-lap footage from Mexico before issuing any clarifications ahead of the next round.
