Charles Leclerc verdict reached by FIA stewards after qualifying investigation

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was among a trio of drivers investigated by the stewards after the Japanese Grand Prix qualifying.

Leclerc, together with Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas, were all put under the microscope by the stewards after qualifying at Suzuka.

All three were singled out for a failure to follow the Race Directors’ pre-event instructions regarding a maximum lap time, exceeding the 1:54 minute laptime that Niels Wittich outlined as the slowest time permitted for an in or out-lap.

FIA stewards reach verdict on Charles Leclerc transgression

With Leclerc, Zhou, and Bottas investigated on the grounds of an alleged breach of the FIA Formula 1 Sporting Regulations Article 33.4 and Article 12.2.1.i of the International Sporting Code for a failure to follow the Race Director’s instructions, the stewards have ruled no further action is required.

“The Stewards thoroughly reviewed Marshalling/Positioning data, timing data, on-board cameras and CCTV cameras,” read the steward’s documentation.

“All drivers stayed at or above speeds necessary to stay below 1:54:0 around the vast majority of the circuit.

“However, in all cases, the Stewards determined that the drivers took appropriate actions to slow and stay to the side to the track so as to not impede other drivers, and in all cases, they did this significantly to allow four or more drivers to pass while giving those drivers a clear track.

“The Stewards, therefore, determine that they did not drive “unnecessarily slowly”, and that evidently the reason they were all slightly above the maximum time was due to their appropriate actions and take no further action.

Charles Leclerc repeats error from Italian Grand Prix qualifying

At Monza, both Ferrari drivers fell foul of the same rule as they exceeded the 1:41 laptime mandated as the maximum permitted during qualifying. However, both escaped penalty as the stewards ruled the actions taken by both Leclerc and Carlos Sainz were appropriate to the circumstances they found themselves in.

“Both drivers stayed at or above speeds necessary to stay below 1:41.0 around the vast majority of the circuit and especially on the straights,” read the verdict after the Italian Grand Prix qualifying.

“However, in both cases, the Stewards determined that the drivers took appropriate actions to slow and stay to the side of the track so as to not impede other drivers, and in both cases they did this significantly to allow four drivers to pass while giving those drivers a clear track.

“The Stewards, therefore, determine that they did not drive “unnecessarily slowly”, and that evidently the reason they were both slightly above the maximum time was due to their appropriate actions and take no further action.”

Therefore, the stewards have been consistent in their evaluation of both incidents – taking the driver’s approach to safety into consideration despite their failure to adhere to the laptime limit.

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