Charles Leclerc will start with a 10-place grid penalty at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The FIA has confirmed this sanction after Ferrari installed a third battery on the Monegasque driver’s car, exceeding the allowed limit of two units per season.
The incident occurred during the first free practice session at the Yas Marina circuit, where Leclerc had to wait 20 minutes in the pits due to a technical problem. This penalty comes as the Italian team is only 21 points behind McLaren in the battle for the constructors’ title.
The official document published by the FIA specifies: « The energy storage system used by Charles Leclerc is the third of the season, thus exceeding the limit of two units authorized by the 2024 Formula 1 sporting regulations, article 28.2.
Despite this difficulty, Leclerc’s performance during the first free practice session demonstrated the potential of the Ferrari. The Monegasque driver set the fastest time with a lead of 0.221 seconds over Lando Norris from McLaren, despite a 20-minute delay at the beginning of the session due to technical issues.
Williams drivers Alex Albon and Franco Colapinto will also have to deal with five-place grid penalties, following the use of additional components after incidents occurred during the Qatar Grand Prix.
For Ferrari, the mission now appears particularly complex. The Maranello team, which has never won a race in Abu Dhabi, will not only have to overcome this position handicap, but also deliver an exceptional performance to hope to win the constructors’ title.
