Romain Grosjean has moved on to 10 penalty points, just two away from a ban, after his clash with Charles Leclerc on the opening lap of the United States Grand Prix.
Grosjean was running behind Sergio Perez and Leclerc as they scrapped on the first lap at Austin, but the Haas driver locked up into Turn 12 and hit his Sauber rival.
Leclerc was tipped into a spin and ultimately retired from the race while running towards the back, as Grosjean halted his Haas VF-18 shortly after the incident.
Stewards summoned both drivers and deemed Grosjean to be culpable.
They noted Grosjean “lifted and braked early” because of their respective positions “but nevertheless made contact.”
The stewards awarded “just one [penalty] point in recognition of the circumstances”, but also slapped Grosjean with a three-place grid demotion for next weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix.
Drivers are permitted to rack up 12 penalty points across a rolling 12-month period; Grosjean will drop one of his points following the upcoming event in Mexico City.
