Leclerc drops to P7 after post-race penalties

Charles Leclerc demoted

Charles Leclerc has been demoted to seventh place in the final classifications of the Japanese Grand Prix after receiving two post-race time penalties.

Leclerc was handed a ten-second time penalty for driving in an unsafe condition when his front wing was broken due to contact with Max Verstappen on the opening lap of the race.

For the collision itself, Leclerc was issued a five-second time penalty, which promotes Daniel Ricciardo up into sixth place.

“Car 16 and car 33 were side by side as they transited [sic] turn 1 and approached turn 2 on the first lap, with car 16 on the inside," read the stewards statement in relation to the contact between Leclerc and Verstappen.

"As the cars approached the apex of turn 2, car 33, which was marginally in front, stayed wide and allowed sufficient room to the inside but car 16 lost front grip in the wake of the car in front and abruptly understeered towards the outside of the track, contacting car 33 and forcing it off the track.

“While the loss of front grip on car 16 caused the contact and was not intentional, that loss of grip in close proximity to the car in front should have been anticipated and allowed for by car 16. Car 16 is judged predominantly at fault for the incident.

"This is a somewhat unusual first lap incident, as only these cars were directly involved, so few of the normal mitigating circumstances exist."

The stewards added that Ferrari increased the risk of causing another accident during the race by not ensuring Leclerc pitted at the end of the opening lap of the race.

"Car 16 received front wing damage in an incident on lap 1 at turn 2," the stewards wrote. “The car continued on after the incident and did not pit at the end of lap 1.

“During lap 2, anticipating a call about the car, the team told the Race Director they were calling the car into the pits at the end of lap 2. During lap 2, at turn 11 one section of the front wing detached from the car.

"Later on that lap, after turn 14 a larger section of front wing detached from car 16 and impacted car 44 which was closely following car 16. This piece of wing narrowly avoided an impact in the area of the cockpit of car 44 and destroyed the right-side mirror of car 44.

“After this second piece detached, the team felt the car was now in a safe condition and despite previously telling the Race Director that the car would be called to the pits, they told car 16 to remain out and not to pit.

"On lap 3 the Race Director called the team and directed the car be brought to the pits for inspection. Car 16 pitted at the end of lap 3.

“By not bringing car 16 into the pits at the end of lap 1, immediately after the incident for a safety inspection when there was damage clearly visible and then by telling the driver to remain out for an additional lap after telling the Race Director otherwise, the team created an unsafe condition on the circuit which only narrowly avoided being a major incident and also increased the likelihood of additional incidents after the one noted."