F1 stewards make Japanese GP penalty decision as Leclerc and two rivals accused

23 September 2023 , 08:44

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Charles Leclerc speaking after Japanese GP qualifying (Image: Sky Sports)

Charles Leclerc was among three Formula 1 drivers investigated after qualifying at the Japanese Grand Prix.

The Ferrari driver qualified fourth on the grid for Sunday's race. However, there was a threat that he might lose that position as the race director referred him to the stewards for investigation.

And he wasn't alone. Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas, who went out in Q1, were also under the microscope – all three accused of failing to follow the race director's instructions.

Specifically, they were clocked as having not come under the maximum lap time between the two safety car lines. The rule is being enforced this weekend in a bid to stop people from queuing on track before heading on a flying lap.

After investigation, the stewards made it clear all three had gone over the 1:54:000 time limit set by race director Niels Wittich. None of them were punished, though, as they judged the trio to have had good reasons.

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An official decision document read: "The stewards thoroughly reviewed marshalling and positioning data, timing data, on-board cameras and CCTV cameras. All drivers stayed at or above speeds necessary to stay below 1:54:0 around the vast majority of the circuit.

"However, in all cases, the Stewards determined that the drivers took appropriate actions to slow and stay to the side to the track so as to not impede other drivers, and in all cases, they did this significantly to allow four or more drivers to pass while giving those drivers a clear track.

"The stewards, therefore, determine that they did not drive 'unnecessarily slowly' and that evidently the reason they were all slightly above the maximum time was due to their appropriate actions and take no further action."

Speaking after the session, Leclerc voice his pleasure over the result. "I definitely did not expect to be that close to the McLarens, so we did not expect to beat them, no. For some reason, they found something in sector 1. From yesterday they made a huge step forward and we knew we didn't have that in the car.

"But, all in all, my lap in Q3 – I don't think there was much more there. So, I don't regret any choices we've made."

Daniel Moxon