Update | Leclerc starts from pit lane, Ferrari changes engine parts
F1 News
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc will start the Barcelona Grand Prix from the pit lane, the Italian racing stable confirmed to F1 journalist Luke Smith.
Ferrari says it is giving the team the option of changing the gearbox to ensure the car is free of technical problems. A big difference the new starting spot will not be for the Monegasque. After all, Leclerc did not get beyond P19 in his Ferrari.
Ferrari changes gearbox and engine parts
The Ferrari driver thought after qualifying that something must be wrong with his car. Not only was the performance less, the car was said to have behaved differently than during free practice. Ferrari ruled ahead and changed Leclerc's gearbox to be on the safe side. Due to the low qualifying position, the sporting blow from this will be relatively minor. Teammate Carlos Sainz managed to take his SF-23 to P2.
Besides the gearbox change, Ferrari has also decided to replace some engine parts at Leclerc. This brings the Monegasque to his third Energy Store and fourth Control Electronics of the season, parts that caused technical problems earlier in the year. This will land Leclerc with a 15-place grid penalty, but as he is starting from the pits anyway, the penalty does not hurt him extra.
Update | Sargeant also from the pit lane
Logan Sargeant, who was due to start from last place, will also start the race from the pit lane. Williams has made adjustments to the suspension tuning and brake cooling, which, according to the regulations, require him to start from the pits.
