Sainz, Leclerc and Ferrari blunder: grid penalty for Italian GP?

F1 News

sainz leclerc too slow italian Grand Prix qualifying
2 September 2023 at 15:37
Last update 2 September 2023 at 16:13
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  • Toby McLuskie

Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc are immediately under a magnifying glass after the first part of qualifying. Indeed, the two Ferrari drivers allegedly drove too slowly in Q1 and will be investigated after qualifying.

Update 16:00 BST

As soon as qualifying finished, it was confirmed that no further action was required. 

Sainz and Leclerc go wrong

Prior to qualifying, the FIA announced that drivers should no longer drive unnecessarily slow. A time of 1.41.0 was specified as the minimum time that drivers should drive, to prevent drivers from overly looking for a spot behind another driver.

Immediately after Q1, word came out from the FIA that Sainz and Leclerc will be investigated after the race. This is because they both drove too slowly. As the investigation will only take place after qualifying, the result of qualifying could be changed later on Saturday. It would then probably be a grid penalty.