F1 NEWS: FIA Announces Ferrari Penalty Verdict at Chinese GP A…read more
F1 NEWS: FIA Announces Ferrari Penalty Verdict at Chinese GP after…read more
The FIA has officially cleared Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of any wrongdoing after an investigation into his driving during Friday’s sprint qualifying session at the Chinese Grand Prix.
Leclerc, who finished fourth in the session, was summoned by the stewards over allegations that he drove unnecessarily slowly, exceeding the permitted 1:54.00 limit between the two safety car lines. His Ferrari teammate, Lewis Hamilton, shocked the paddock by securing pole position, marking a major turnaround for the team after a disappointing Australian Grand Prix.
Following a thorough review of the incident, the stewards ruled that Leclerc’s actions were justified, citing extenuating circumstances. The FIA analyzed video footage, telemetry data, and in-car recordings before determining that Leclerc did not impede any other drivers or gain a sporting advantage.
FIA’s Official Verdict
In their official statement, the stewards explained:
“Both Leclerc and Hamilton commenced their preparation laps close to each other. Hamilton followed Leclerc closely, while Leclerc had Lance Stroll ahead of him on a preparatory lap. Leclerc had to wait for Stroll to begin his push lap, and during this time, he was overtaken by Hamilton on team orders.”
They further stated:
“At all times, Leclerc maintained a reasonable speed and sought to create an appropriate gap behind Hamilton. No car behind Leclerc was affected, and his actions were conducted in an orderly fashion. As a result, Leclerc did not breach the rule of driving ‘unnecessarily slowly,’ and no further action will be taken.”
Ferrari Shows Strong Pace in China
Despite the FIA drama, Ferrari’s performance in Shanghai has been significantly stronger compared to their struggles in Australia. Hamilton topped two of the three sprint qualifying sessions, while both Ferrari drivers demonstrated competitive pace.
However, a minor moment of confusion arose during SQ2 when Leclerc was asked to swap positions with Hamilton. Responding over team radio, Leclerc hesitated, saying, *“Yes, I’ll do it, but we’ve never done that. And I’m a bit in the s*** as well, so…”
With the penalty issue resolved, attention now turns to Saturday’s sprint race, which is set to begin at 3:00 AM GMT. Later in the day, drivers will compete in qualifying for Sunday’s feature race, scheduled for 7:00 AM GMT.
Ferrari will be eager to capitalize on their improved performance, while Hamilton will aim to convert his shock pole position into a strong race result.
