Magnussen reprimanded for Leclerc incident in Barcelona

Kevin Magnussen avoided serious punishment for an incident with Charles Leclerc at the Spanish Grand Prix, earning a reprimand for almost causing a high-speed collision with the Sauber driver. Leclerc almost ploughed into the back of Magnussen in Barcelona as the Haas man drove slowly through the racing line.

Leclerc had to swerve the slowing Haas on the back straight in Barcelona, narrowly avoiding a crash at 200 mph.

READ MORE: Leclerc and Magnussen in near miss

"Magnussen needs to understand he's not alone on track, honestly," Leclerc said over team radio. "I mean he's on a slow lap and he stays on the line. Every time it's him, every time."

Magnussen was also centre of controversy in Baku last time out, almost putting Pierre Gasly into the wall at similar high speeds, having said pre-race he was prepared to die while racing. Magnussen clarified his comments, and has apologised to Gasly twice since that incident.

Stewards have issued @KevinMagnussen a reprimand for his driving after #FP1 - his first of the current season. We move on and look ahead to #FP2. #HaasF1 pic.twitter.com/OssL8Uk8dL — Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) May 11, 2018

Magnussen will not be subjected to a grid penalty for his actions, however, after the Dane explained why he was moving so slowly to the FIA.

A statement read: "The driver [Magnussen] explained that he had received a yellow flag at turn 10 and had aborted his lap.

"He was unaware that the flag had cleared and that the driver of Car 16 [Leclerc] who was immediately behind him had not aborted his lap as he had not been in the sector when it was yellow."

The FIA statement revealed that, as such, Magnussen was not found to have unnecessarily impeded Leclerc, although stewards "deemed the manoeuvre to be potentially dangerous and unnecessary".