Setback for Leclerc: Ferrari driver loses points after penalty

General

Leclerc five second penalty sprint race Qatar Grand Prix 2023
7 October 2023 at 20:39
  • Kada Sarkozi
  • Editor

Charles Leclerc received a time penalty in the sprint race in Qatar. The Ferrari driver had five seconds added to his race time afterwards for repeatedly violating the track limits.

Leclerc crossed the finish line in seventh place, but dropped back to well outside the top-eight. So no points for the Monegasque, who saw teammate Carlos Sainz lead by three points in the battle for the World Championship thanks to his sixth place.

Alexander Albon and Fernando Alonso benefited from Leclerc's time penalty. The Williams driver now gets two points instead of one, while Alonso gets a point despite a poor sprint race.

Stroll also penalised

Lance Stroll - who crossed the line in 13th place - also incurs a five-second time penalty. The Aston Martin driver drove well outside the points and so it had no impact on his points total.