Charles Leclerc, Ferrari Formula 1 driver, believes he should have regain his lost place instead of penalty on Max Verstappen at Las Vegas Grand Prix.
The world champion pushed off the Monégasque at Turn 1 due to unexpected lower grip. Verstappen went ahead to push Ferrari driver at Turn 1, but he pushed him off track while gaining the race lead.
The FIA steward initiated the investigation following the incident. Red Bull accommodated the penalty through five-second penalty instead of handing the lead to Ferrari.
Dutch driver exploited the lead through fresh air. He built a gap that accommodated the five-second penalty which he served during the first pit stop.
However, that strategy failed as Leclerc close the gap and took the lead as he went in for pitstop. The Ferrari team utilizes the medium tyres which helped him to close the gap on Verstappen.
Last month, George Russell gain position against Oscar Piastri while utilizing off track in Austin.
Leclerc believes the penalty on Verstappen fulfilled the purpose. However, he argued that he would be better off with his lost place.
“Obviously, it was on the limit, over the limit, and I think the five-second penalty is deserved. It was tight,” Leclerc said.
“He paid a penalty and I think that was the right penalty to give.
“I just think that in those kinds of situations, it would be better for the FIA to ask to give the place back, because I think there’s quite a bit of an advantage to take care of tyres when you have free air. But yeah, it’s the way it is.”
Initially, Verstappen contested the penalty but later he conceded that the stewards made the right call.
Christian Horner, Red Bull team principal, believes that the steward awarded a “marginal” penalty. He claims that usually steward have lenient appraoch toward errors on the first lap.
“It was 50/50,” he said. “They ran wide at that first turn, Max being slightly ahead.
“We thought it was in the realms of let them race in the first few corners or first lap, which is why we didn’t reverse it.
“So, when he got the penalty it meant he had to do it the harder way. It was really marginal but we accepted it.”
