FIA announce Ferrari penalty verdict at Chinese Grand Prix
FIA Clears Charles Leclerc of Wrongdoing Following Investigation into Sprint Qualifying Session
The FIA has revealed the results of an investigation into Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc’s actions during Friday’s sprint qualifying session at the Chinese Grand Prix. Leclerc, who finished fourth in the session, was summoned to the stewards’ room along with his team, Ferrari, to address accusations of driving unnecessarily slowly and exceeding the set limit of 1:54.00 seconds between the two safety car lines.
However, after conducting a thorough investigation, which included reviewing positioning/marshalling system data, video, timing, and in-car video evidence, the stewards cleared Leclerc of any wrongdoing. The investigation found that Leclerc had maintained a reasonable speed throughout the session and had not impeded other drivers or gained any sporting advantage.
The stewards’ decision was based on the fact that Leclerc had been following team orders and had been forced to wait for Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll to commence his push lap. During this time, Leclerc was overtaken by his teammate, Lewis Hamilton, who went on to secure a surprise pole position.
The first day of running in Shanghai has been a marked improvement for Ferrari compared to their performance last weekend in Australia. Hamilton’s pole position was a surprise to many, but both Ferrari drivers showed impressive pace throughout the sprint qualifying session.
Leclerc did express some confusion during the session, particularly during SQ2, when he was asked to swap positions on-track with Hamilton. Leclerc’s response over the team radio highlighted his uncertainty, saying: “Yes, I’ll do it, but we’ve never done that. And I’m a bit in the s*** as well, so…”.
Despite the initial confusion, Ferrari’s pace has been a positive sign for the team, and they will be looking to build on this momentum during Saturday’s sprint race and Sunday’s feature race. The sprint race is scheduled to take place at 3 am GMT, followed by qualifying for the feature race at 7 am GMT.
The FIA’s decision to clear Leclerc of any wrongdoing has been welcomed by Ferrari, and the team can now focus on the remainder of the weekend’s racing without the burden of a potential penalty. The stewards’ verdict highlights the importance of considering the specific circumstances of each incident and the need for a nuanced approach to enforcing the rules.
As the Chinese Grand Prix weekend continues to unfold, Ferrari will be looking to capitalize on their improved pace and secure a strong result. With Hamilton and Leclerc showing impressive speed, the team is well-placed to challenge for victory and make amends for their disappointing performance in Australia.
