Ferrari SLAM 'unacceptable' decision to sanction Leclerc at Japan GP
Ferrari boss SLAMS ‘ridiculous and unacceptable’ decision to sanction Charles Leclerc at Japanese Grand Prix… as his five-second time penalty hands Red Bull’s Max Verstappen a second world championship
- Leclerc was penalised for cutting a corner on the final lap of the race
- In doing so, he was dealt a five-second penalty and was demoted to third
- The decision then meant Verstappen had enough points to win the world title
- Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto insists it is a ‘nonsense decision’ from the FIA
Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto has slammed the ‘nonsense decision’ to penalise Charles Leclerc during the Japanese Grand Prix.
The Monegasque driver was issued a five-second time penalty after the race, having cut a corner on the last lap as he tussled with Red Bull’s Sergio Perez for second place.
The sanction meant that Max Verstappen had enough points to clinch his second world title but Ferrari boss Binotto says it’s ‘unacceptable’ how ‘fast’ they came to a decision.
Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto slammed the decision to penalise Charles Leclerc
Leclerc looked on in disappointment as he discovered his five-second time penalty
The Ferrari driver was judged to have gained an advantage by running wide at the final chicane
Max Verstappen walked away from the Japanese GP with his second world championship
Speaking to Sky Italy, Binotto said: ‘How fast FIA took the decision to sanction Leclerc is ridiculous and unacceptable.
‘Last race it took them an infinite number of laps to take a nonsense decision. We will protest in the appropriate offices.’
Leclerc crossed the line in second, ahead of Verstappen’s team-mate Perez, but was later knocked down a place after the time penalty was applied.
It was not immediately clear whether full points would be awarded for a race that ran just over half distance, but that was quickly rectified as Verstappen was crowned champion.
Leclerc had been in second for the majority of the race but couldn’t close gap on Verstappen
Red Bull’s Verstappen put in a dominant performance to earn victory in Suzuka
After the race, Verstappen needed to be told he had become the two-time Formula One world champion following Leclerc’s five-second penalty.
Perez’s post-race interview had to be interrupted as the news broke of Leclerc’s penalty, with Verstappen awkwardly being re-summoned by Sky Sports pundit Johnny Herbert to be told of his feat, as the 25-year-old sealed back-to-back titles in hugely contrasting – but equally bizarre – fashions.
Many were unsure whether the Dutchman had done enough to seal the title – with even Verstappen asking: ‘Are you sure?’ when he was told he was champion.
Pierre Gasly hit out at the FIA after nearly colliding with a tractor during the race
The FIA came under further scrutiny after Pierre Gasly came perilously close to a serious accident as he narrowly missed a tractor that had emerged out on track.
The tractor had made it’s way onto the track at Suzuka to collect the stricken Ferrari of Carlos Sainz, however not all the drivers with in the pits yet.
Gasly himself took to the team radio to vent his frustration at the incident, in a chilling warning that was full of fury: ‘What is this? What is this tractor on track?! I passed next to it.
‘This unacceptable. Remember what has happened. Can’t believe this.’
Live speed data showed Gasly doing 200 km/h as he approached the tractor in Suzuka
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