The FIA stewards found Ferrari guilty of an unsafe release during the second free practice session for the 2025 Singapore Grand Prix. Following an incident involving Charles Leclerc and McLaren’s Lando Norris, the Italian team received a fine of 10,000 euros.
The situation unfolded when Ferrari instructed Leclerc to exit the garage and enter the fast lane of the pit lane. However, Norris was already in the lane. The two cars made contact, forcing Norris into the pit wall and damaging his front wing.
In their official statement, the stewards outlined the reasoning behind their decision. They noted that Leclerc was instructed to leave the garage without being fully aware of Norris’s presence. According to the report, the Ferrari crew member responsible for signalling to Leclerc misjudged the situation and provided unclear instructions.
The statement further clarified that Leclerc could not see Norris, which led directly to the collision. Fines for such cases normally stand at 5,000 euros. However, in this instance, the stewards decided to double the penalty.
They explained that this was based on precedent, citing several earlier cases where unsafe releases had been treated more leniently. They concluded that a stronger response was necessary to emphasise the seriousness of the offence.
This decision was made in accordance with Article 34.14 a) of the Formula 1 Sporting Regulations, which states the following: ‘Cars may not be released from the garage or the pit stop position in such a way as to endanger personnel in the pit lane or another driver, or damage another car.’
Charles Leclerc’s perspective
Speaking to Sky Sports before the verdict was announced, Leclerc shared his thoughts on the events. The Ferrari driver explained that the situation had developed quickly, with both McLarens exiting the garage almost simultaneously.
‘There was a bit of confusion when the two McLarens pulled out because it looked like they were going to leave at the same time,’ he said.
He added that his mechanic had expected the McLarens to move out more slowly and that he had never received a direct instruction to stop. “In situations like this, you rely on the team to some extent,” he explained.
Avoiding direct blame of his team, Leclerc acknowledged the intensity of the session instead.
‘These things happen. It wasn’t easy either because everyone was in a hurry to complete a few more laps after the red flags. It’s a combination of different factors — this sort of thing shouldn’t happen, but it does.”
Support from Jamie Chadwick
Williams driver and three-time W Series champion Jamie Chadwick defended Leclerc in a post-session interview. Speaking to Sky, she argued that Leclerc could not be held accountable for the incident.
‘There really wasn’t anything Charles could do here,” Chadwick explained. “He can’t see the approaching cars. You’re completely dependent on the person who sends you out of the garage. As soon as they say it’s clear, you go.”
Admitting that the incident appeared “super clumsy”, Chadwick primarily blamed Ferrari for the error. She further emphasised that, in such cases, the responsibility lies almost entirely with the team.
She also questioned whether the penalty was sufficient to prevent future mistakes.
‘There should be a stronger deterrent than just a comparatively small fine. If Charles had collided with him on the track, he would probably have received a penalty for the rest of the weekend.”
Implications of the penalty
While a 10,000-euro fine has minimal financial impact on a Formula 1 team, the ruling serves as a reminder of the importance of pit lane safety. Unsafe releases are among the most heavily scrutinised aspects of race operations due to the high risks involved.
Even a minor collision in the pit lane can damage cars, create hazards for personnel and potentially disrupt a driver’s entire weekend. The stewards’ decision to increase the fine signals a stricter approach to enforcement, with the intention of discouraging teams from taking risks under pressure.
Looking ahead to the rest of the Singapore weekend, Ferrari will need to exercise greater caution during pit lane operations. Meanwhile, McLaren’s focus will be on repairing the damage to Norris’s car and regaining lost track time.
The incident between Ferrari and McLaren during practice at the Singapore Grand Prix highlights how fine the margins are in Formula 1 pit lane procedures. Although Leclerc was involved in the clash, the stewards’ findings made it clear that Ferrari’s pit crew were at fault.
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The second practice session at the Formula One Grand Prix is more vital than other Friday afternoon sessions given the fact it, rather than FP3 in Singapore is more representative of the conditions for qualifying.
The teams all perform their qualifying simulations under the lights in the city state together with long runs earlier in the session to understand the tyre performance for the Grand Prix.
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Thiago Treze is a Brazilian motorsport writer at TJ13 with a background in sports journalism and broadcast media, alongside an academic foundation in engineering with a focus on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). This combination of technical knowledge and editorial experience allows Thiago to approach Formula 1 from both a performance and narrative perspective.
At TJ13, Treze covers driver performance, career developments, and key storylines across the Formula 1 grid, while also analysing the technical factors that influence competitiveness. This includes aerodynamic development trends, simulation-driven design approaches, and the engineering decisions that shape race weekend outcomes.
His reporting bridges the gap between human performance and machine development, helping readers understand how driver execution and technical innovation interact in modern Formula 1. Coverage often connects on-track events with the underlying engineering philosophies that define each team’s approach.
With a global perspective shaped by both journalism and technical study, Thiago also focuses on Formula 1’s international reach and the different ways the sport is experienced across regions.
Treze has a particular interest in how Computational Fluid Dynamics and aerodynamic modelling contribute to car performance, offering accessible explanations of complex technical concepts within Formula 1.
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