FIA announce Ferrari penalty verdict at Chinese Grand Prix
Charles Leclerc and Ferrari received a welcome boost on the first day of running in Shanghai, China, as the Monegasque driver secured a fourth-place finish in qualifying, a marked improvement on his performance last weekend in Australia. However, the day was not without drama, as Leclerc and Ferrari were summoned to see the stewards over an accusation of driving unnecessarily slowly.
The issue arose during the qualifying session, when Leclerc exceeded the set limit of 1:54.00 seconds between the two safety car lines. The stewards reviewed the incident, hearing from Leclerc, a team representative, and examining positioning/marshalling system data, video, timing, and in-car video evidence.
After careful consideration, the stewards determined that Leclerc had not driven “unnecessarily slowly” and had not gained any sporting advantage by his actions. In fact, the stewards found that Leclerc had maintained a reasonable speed and had sought to create a reasonable gap behind his teammate, Lewis Hamilton, who had overtaken him on the orders of the team.
The stewards’ verdict was a welcome relief for Leclerc and Ferrari, who had faced a potentially damaging penalty. Instead, the team can focus on building on their improved performance in Shanghai, where Hamilton took a shock pole position, beating Leclerc to the top spot.
Ferrari’s improved showing in China is a positive sign for the team, who struggled in Australia, qualifying seventh and eighth before botching a strategy decision to finish a chaotic race eighth and tenth. With Hamilton and Leclerc showcasing impressive pace in Shanghai, the team will be looking to capitalize on their improved performance and secure a strong result in Sunday’s feature race.
The first sprint race of the season takes place on Saturday morning, with qualifying for the feature race following later in the day. With the team’s improved performance and the stewards’ verdict, Ferrari will be looking to make the most of their opportunities in Shanghai and get their season back on track.
