FIA announced Late penalty on Ferrari star following the inv….read more
Charles Leclerc has escaped penalty following a late-race incident at the Imola Grand Prix, as confirmed by an official statement from the FIA. The Ferrari driver was under scrutiny after a dramatic battle with Williams’ Alex Albon, which unfolded in the final stages of the race.
The incident occurred as Leclerc and Albon tussled for fourth place. Albon attempted an overtake on Leclerc, but the Ferrari driver appeared to force him off the track and into the gravel. The maneuver allowed Lewis Hamilton, Leclerc’s teammate, to overtake Albon. Moments later, Hamilton also passed Leclerc, gaining valuable positions in the final laps.
Ferrari, aware of the potential consequences of Leclerc’s move on Albon, quickly instructed him to hand the position back to the Thai driver. This preemptive action was taken to avoid any potential penalty that could be handed down by the FIA, which had opened an investigation into the incident.
According to the official report from the FIA, the stewards began analyzing the event, reviewing various data points including marshalling system data, video footage, and in-car telemetry. They confirmed that Leclerc’s car, number 16, appeared to have forced car 23, driven by Albon, off track at the exit of Turn 2.
However, the investigation did not progress to a formal conclusion. This was due to Leclerc’s voluntary act of relinquishing the position back to Albon shortly after the incident. The stewards acknowledged this move, stating that because Leclerc acted promptly to rectify the situation, there was no need for further disciplinary action.
“The stewards reviewed positioning/marshalling system data, video, timing and in-car video evidence and determined that it was alleged that car 16 forced car 23 off the track at the exit of Turn 2,” the FIA said in their statement. “However, before we could conclude our investigations, car 16 voluntarily gave the position back to mitigate the alleged breach. In the circumstances, we took no further action.”
As a result of the events, Leclerc finished the race in sixth place, while Hamilton climbed to fourth, just behind Oscar Piastri in third. Albon, despite the temporary setback, managed to finish the race without further complications.
Both Ferrari drivers had been recovering from a challenging qualifying session that saw them start in 11th and 12th positions. Their strong recovery drives, especially Hamilton’s surge into the top four, were notable performances despite the team’s earlier struggles.
Leclerc’s quick decision to surrender the position played a key role in diffusing the situation and avoiding further complications. The FIA’s verdict emphasized the importance of sportsmanship and proactive measures in resolving on-track incidents, showcasing how quick thinking can prevent prolonged inquiri
es and penalties.
