Charles Leclerc will go into qualifying without the threat of a penalty after the stewards gave him a reprimand for an incident during final practice.
The Ferrari driver was investigated for allegedly driving too quickly during the Virtual Safety Car. The stewards ruled he did not increase his lap time above the minimum target set during the VSC but have given him a reprimand for the incident.“The driver clearly and appropriately braked before turn 1 in reaction to the incident at the corner,” the stewards noted. “The VSC appeared when the driver was between turn one and turn two. The driver did slow significantly, however he remained below the minimum time set by the FIA ECU until past turn eight.
“The stewards recognised that the driver was considerably slower than a normal lap throughout the sequence. However, as the VSC is imposed for safety reasons, the stewards determined that the breach needed to be recognised. The stewards therefore impose a reprimand, which is consistent with similar cases during practice sessions.”
The reprimand is the first Leclerc has picked up this season. The VSC period he was caught speeding in was caused by his team mate Sebastian Vettel when he crashed at Sainte Devote.
Don't miss anything new from RaceFans
Follow RaceFans on social media:
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
2019 F1 season
- Crying in the Melbourne car park at 2019 grand prix was my career low – Ocon
- McLaren Racing reports reduced £71 million loss in 2019
- Kvyat: Hockenheim podium last year was “my biggest achievement” so far
- How the FIA’s new encrypted fuel flow meter targets Ferrari’s suspected ‘aliasing’ trick
- “He smashed my office door”: 23 must-see moments from ‘Drive to Survive’ season two
Chaitanya
25th May 2019, 13:13
Fair enough, though next time he will be judged harshly.
petebaldwin (@)
25th May 2019, 14:20
Seems a bit of a now story now…. Wow!
Ninjenius (@ninjenius)
25th May 2019, 14:49
Well that’s good to know, the only way he’d end up starting near the back is if Ferrari’s strategists have another cock-up.
Oh wait.