Leclerc Cleared by Stewards After FP2 Incident in Las Vegas

Charles Leclerc received a verdict of no further action from the FIA stewards following an incident after retiring from the second practice session of the Las Vegas Grand Prix. The Ferrari driver had been summoned for allegedly failing to replace his steering wheel and turn off the Energy Recovery System (ERS) after his FP2 outing. However, after review, the stewards concluded that no action would be taken against the Monegasque driver.

Why it matters:

Ferrari's start to the Las Vegas Grand Prix has been anything but smooth, with significant disruptions during both practice sessions. While the initial manhole cover incident caused widespread frustration, Leclerc's subsequent gearbox issue and the steward's summons added another layer of complexity. Clearing Leclerc of any wrongdoing ensures that Ferrari can fully focus on qualifying and the race without the shadow of a penalty, which is crucial for a team aiming to capitalize on their strong pace.

The details:

• Incident Overview: Leclerc was summoned by the stewards for an alleged breach of Article 26.5 of the sporting regulations, specifically failing to replace his steering wheel and turn off the ERS after his car stopped on track.
• Steward's Ruling: Following their review, the stewards decided to take no further action against Leclerc.
• Driver's Explanation: Leclerc explained to the stewards that he attempted to put the car in neutral but could not, so he switched off the car before exiting it. The stewards accepted this explanation, noting he left the car in gear due to a transmission problem and that it appeared to be in a power-on state.
• FP2 Disruptions: Leclerc's FP2 session ended prematurely due to a gearbox issue during his final run. This came after the session itself was significantly delayed and disrupted by a red flag caused by a loose manhole cover at Turn 17.
• Initial Pace: Despite the drama, Leclerc had shown strong pace, topping FP1 and being quick enough for second place in FP2 before his retirement.

The big picture:

Ferrari has demonstrated significant raw pace on the new Las Vegas street circuit, with Leclerc leading FP1 and showing strong potential in FP2. However, reliability issues and track disruptions have overshadowed their performance. The steward's decision to clear Leclerc allows the team to move forward without a penalty, which could have been detrimental given the tight margins in Formula 1. This focus will be critical as they aim to convert their practice speed into strong qualifying and race results in what promises to be an unpredictable weekend.

What's next:

With the steward's inquiry behind him, Charles Leclerc and Ferrari can now fully concentrate on qualifying. Their strong practice pace suggests they could be strong contenders for pole position, but the unique challenges of the Las Vegas street circuit and potential reliability concerns will be key factors. The team will be working intensively to ensure Leclerc's car is fully prepared and free from the issues that plagued his FP2 session.