FIA announces 15s Time Penalty for Charles Leclerc at the Japanese Grand Prix

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc had an adventurous Japanese Grand Prix 2019. The Monegasque driver clipped Max Verstappen and sent him into a spin. As a result of his tangle, the FIA investigated the incident and would announce the results after the race.

It was also worth noting that he picked up significant front wing damage and the team asked him to pit. However, he soldiered on for another lap, shedding bits and pieces of front wing, before diving in the pits.

Now, the verdict is out and the Ferrari driver will drop to 7th place, for his misdemeanour. In addition to that, Scuderia Ferrari themselves, also got a rap on the knuckle, courtesy a fine for failing to pit a potentially dangerous car.

In the last few years, driver and personnel safety has been taken very seriously. With the passing of Anthoine Hubert earlier this year, the FIA are keen to prevent potentially dangerous events.

Coming back to Ferrari, they dodged a bullet when an investigation on a potential jumpstart for Sebastian Vettel was dropped. What didn’t help matters was both drivers getting off the line sluggishly, and Valtteri Bottas leapfrogging both of them.

In the end, the Finn took victory, while Sebastian Vettel managed to fend off Lewis Hamilton for 2nd. Charles Leclerc was initially 6th, but the penalty has dropped him to 7th, behind Daniel Ricciardo. Completing the top 10 are Pierre Gasly, Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg.

One driver who will not be pleased with the outcome of the race is Max Verstappen. As mentioned before, he was on the receiving end of a clip by Leclerc, which ended his race. He declared that what Leclerc did was not a racing incident, but a case of irresponsible driving.

Initially, there was no further action taken, before the stewards did a volte face and summoned both drivers. Verstappen said, “I mean, what more should he (Charles Leclerc) do to get a penalty? I like hard racing, but I don’t think this was hard racing. This was just irresponsible driving into Turn Two.”