Ferrari has been handed a €10,000 fine for unsafely releasing Charles Leclerc into the path of McLaren’s Lando Norris during Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix practice.
During Friday night’s second practice Leclerc was sent out of the Ferrari garage into the path of Norris. The ensuing contact caused damage to Norris’ front wing, with the Briton having to be pulled back into his garage to replace it.
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Upon further investigation the FIA race stewards held the Ferrari team responsible for what it called a misjudgement, and it handed the Italian squad a €10,000 fine.
“After a red flag period, several cars exited their garages. Car 16 (LEC) was initially instructed by a team member to leave his pitbox. At that moment however, it was overlooked that car 4 (NOR) was already passing in the fast lane, approaching the Ferrari pitbox and directly into the path of LEC,” the FIA stewards decision document stated.
“The team member, who was responsible for the safe conduct of releasing car 16, misjudged the situation and gave unclear instructions to LEC, who could not see NOR’s car. As a result, both cars collided in the fast lane.
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“Having noted precedents for this type of breach, the Stewards are of the view that this breach warrants a more severe penalty than previously applied hence the penalty above is imposed.”
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
Leclerc said there was some confusion at Ferrari because both McLarens were sent out in quick succession.
“It was a bit of confusion with the two McLarens going out,” Leclerc said. “It looked like they were going out at the same time.
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“So the [his mechanic] thought that they would go out a bit slow, and so I didn’t have the message to stop. In these cases, you kind of rely on the team.
“But these things happen, and it was also in a tricky moment because with all the red flags, everybody was in such a rush to get out to do some laps. So, it’s a combination of things. It’s not something you want, but these things happen.”
The incident added to a messy second practice session, which was red flagged twice for on-track incidents involving George Russell and Liam Lawson, disrupting the teams’ long run plans.
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Photos from Singapore GP – PracticeLewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team
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Alexander Albon, Williams
Alexander Albon, Williams
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Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
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Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
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Alexander Albon, Williams
Alexander Albon, Williams
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Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
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Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
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Carlos Sainz, Williams
Carlos Sainz, Williams
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Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
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Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
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Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
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Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
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Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
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Carlos Sainz, Williams
Carlos Sainz, Williams
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Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
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Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
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Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
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George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
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Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
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Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
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Pierre Gasly, Alpine A525
Pierre Gasly, Alpine A525
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Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
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Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
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Isack Hadjar, RB F1 Team VCARB 02
Isack Hadjar, RB F1 Team VCARB 02
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Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
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Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-25
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-25
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Red Bull Racing RB21
Red Bull Racing RB21
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Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
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Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-25
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-25
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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A fan
A fan
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Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari SF-25
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari SF-25
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB21
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB21
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Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL39
Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL39
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Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls VCARB 02
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls VCARB 02
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George Russell, Mercedes crash
George Russell, Mercedes crash
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
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Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team crash
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team crash
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Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team crash
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team crash
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Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
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Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
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Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing RB21
Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing RB21
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Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
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Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari SF-25
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari SF-25
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Read Also:
Charles Leclerc outlines pitlane confusion that caused FP2 crash with Lando Norris
Frustrated Lando Norris slams “difficult” Friday practice at Singapore GP
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