FIA Announce Penalty Verdict for Ferrari Star After I....read more

FIA Clears Charles Leclerc of Penalty After Late-Race Incident at Imola

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc has narrowly avoided a penalty following a controversial late-race moment in the Imola Grand Prix, after a decisive move by the team saw him voluntarily relinquish a position to Williams driver Alex Albon.

The incident occurred during a tense battle for fourth place in the final laps of Sunday’s race. Leclerc, aggressively defending his position from Albon, appeared to push the Williams driver wide at Turn 2, forcing him into the gravel. The loss of traction saw Albon drop behind both Leclerc and a charging Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes.

Sensing the possibility of a stewards’ investigation and a potential penalty, Ferrari quickly advised Leclerc to hand the position back to Albon. The move was executed swiftly before the FIA stewards could reach a formal conclusion on the clash.

In a post-race statement, the FIA clarified the situation:

“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. 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.”

This prompt decision by Ferrari and Leclerc spared the Monegasque driver from a potential time penalty, preserving his sixth-place finish. Hamilton went on to claim fourth, with Albon finishing just ahead of Leclerc in fifth.

Both Ferrari drivers had started outside the top ten following a disappointing qualifying session—Leclerc from P11 and Hamilton from P12. Despite the early setback, the pair mounted an impressive comeback during the race, capitalizing on strategy and overtakes to recover lost ground.

While the incident cost Leclerc a potential top-five result, the team’s quick judgment and knowledge of race regulations ensured they minimized damage. The outcome underlines Ferrari’s tactical growth and Leclerc’s maturity in high-pressure moments.

As Ferrari continues its pursuit of consistent podium finishes in the 2025 Formula 1 season, the Imola Grand Prix served as both a reminder of the sport’s fine margins and the critical importance of strategy and sportsmanship.