Decision Car 16 Driving Unnecessarily Slowly
Time 09:30 2022 CANADIAN GRAND PRIX 16 - 19 June 2022 The FIA Formula One Press Delegate Title Automobile Display Procedure · 2022 · 18 June 2022 · Doc 58
- Driver
- Charles Leclerc
- Team
- Scuderia Ferrari
- Session
- Qualifying
From The Stewards
To The Team Manager,
Scuderia Ferrari
Document 58
Date 18 June 2022
Time 20:56 2022 CANADIAN GRAND PRIX 16 - 19 June 2022 The Stewards, having received a report from the Race Director, summoned (document 48, 49 & 50) and heard from the drivers and team representatives, have considered the following matter, and determine the following:
No / Driver 16 - Charles Leclerc Competitor Scuderia Ferrari Time 16:03 Session Qualifying Fact Driving unnecessarily slowly. Offence Alleged breach of Article 33.4 of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations. Decision No further action. Reason The Stewards heard from the driver of car 55 (Carlos Sainz), the driver of car 23 (Alexander Albon), the driver of car 16 (Charles Leclerc) and team representatives and reviewed video evidence. At the start of Qualifying 1 car 16 slowed on the approach to turn 13 to create a gap to start a fast lap. The driver says that he had to slow significantly behind other cars, who were also doing the same, in order to create a safe gap due to the very poor visibility caused by the weather conditions. Further, he says that it would have been unsafe to try to overtake the other cars in front as they would not have been expecting such a manoeuvre at this point. When the driver was informed by his team that car 77 (Bottas) was approaching very quickly on a fast lap, he slowed even further and stayed off-line to the right before the entry to turn 13 to ensure he did not impede car 77. The Stewards accept that Leclerc did everything possible at that point to avoid impeding Bottas. However, they consider the situation to have been potentially dangerous but, given that many drivers ended up queueing at this part of the circuit, they determine that too many drivers contributed to the situation and therefore the driver concerned is not fully to blame. Competitors are reminded that they have the right to appeal certain decisions of the Stewards, in accordance with Article 15 of the FIA International Sporting Code and Chapter 4 of the FIA Judicial and Disciplinary Rules, within the applicable time limits.