Leclerc faces possible penalty after costly error in Las Vegas practice – Charles Leclerc’s promising beginning to the Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend could still take a turn for the worse. After topping the first free practice session, the Ferrari driver encountered problems in FP2 that forced him to park his car at the side of the track. However, the manner of his exit has triggered an investigation by the stewards that could result in a significant penalty.
Strong Opening, Troubled Afternoon
The day began positively for Leclerc. In the early session, he recorded the fastest lap, demonstrating promising pace for Ferrari on the Las Vegas Strip Circuit. The team appeared competitive, and Leclerc seemed at ease as the cars adapted to the unusual conditions of the newly resurfaced track.
The second free practice session proved more challenging, though. Multiple red flags disrupted proceedings, leaving drivers with limited track time. Leclerc struggled to set a competitive lap time and reported difficulties soon after the session resumed following the first stoppage. When he exited the pit lane, it was clear that there was a problem with the Ferrari.
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Mechanical problems forced Leclerc to stop.
A few corners into his out-lap, Leclerc radioed the team to report a suspected gearbox issue. Ferrari’s engineers instructed him not to change gear while they tried to assess the problem remotely. With the car compromised, Leclerc pulled off the racing line and parked behind a barrier positioned between two casino buildings on the circuit.
After climbing out of the SF-24, he faced a long walk back to the paddock in the dimly lit Las Vegas night, later joining his team for a debrief. Initially, it appeared to be a routine mechanical retirement from the session. However, shortly afterwards, the FIA stewards announced that Leclerc’s actions during and after the stop would be reviewed for a potential breach of the sporting regulations.
Why are the stewards investigating?
The FIA confirmed that the investigation centres on a possible violation of Article 26.5 of the Formula 1 Sporting Regulations. According to the stewards, Leclerc may have failed to follow two key procedures:
1. Not returning the steering wheel to its correct position upon leaving the car.
2. Not correctly deactivating his ERS system, which must be switched off for safety reasons when the car is left at the side of the track.
The timing of the incident has contributed to confusion. The FIA notes that Leclerc parked the Ferrari at 20:58 local time — the exact moment that race control issued a red flag for the session. These simultaneous events may have complicated the sequence of instructions between the driver, the team and the officials.
Nevertheless, the regulations are clear: even in the event of a mechanical failure, the driver must ensure that the car is left in a safe condition, and must refit the steering wheel unless this is impossible or unsafe to do so.
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What penalty could Leclerc receive?
At this stage, it remains uncertain what consequences Leclerc may face. As the alleged violations relate to procedural and safety requirements rather than driving behaviour or gaining a competitive advantage, a sporting penalty is considered unlikely.
Instead, the most probable outcomes are:
A fine, issued to either the driver or the team.
A formal reprimand, which would be added to Leclerc’s record for the season.
Such breaches only lead to harsher penalties, such as grid penalties or exclusion from the race, in extreme cases where the actions create a significant safety risk. Currently, there is no indication that the FIA views the situation as severe enough to warrant grid penalties or other competitive sanctions.
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Stewards’ decision expected soon
Ferrari and Leclerc are expected to meet with the stewards to clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident. Once the hearing is complete, the FIA will publish an official decision. With a crucial weekend in Las Vegas ahead, Leclerc will be hoping that the matter is resolved with minimal repercussions, allowing him to refocus on the remaining practice sessions and qualifying.
Keep up to date with today’s F1 news, along with the stewards’ final decision via our rolling coverage post.
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NEXT ARTICLE: Hamilton admits Ferrari is ‘broken’
Lewis Hamilton joined Formula One’s most iconic team this year amidst a fanfare of fan support on his first day in Maranello. So serious is the seven times champion about making the right impression he for the first time wore a suit to work.
His Mercedes ex-boss Toto Wolff later joked with Hamilton about the picture which emerged from Italy. “That’s when I told him: ‘I try to get you into a suit for 12 years, and then you’ll do it on day 1 at Ferrari.’ We both laughed a lot.”
The early signs appeared positive for Hamilton as he qualified at the season opener in Australia one place behind his team mate, just two tenths of Charles Leclerc’s pace. Yet in the damp Grand Prix, Hamilton’s once famous skills for classic drives in wet weather deserted him as he trailed home in tenth place, claiming just one point.
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Next time out in China all was rosy for Hamilton and Ferrari as the newbie in the team claimed pole for the Sprint going one to win the race and finish five places ahead of his team mate.
Yet this was as good as it got for Hamilton as on Sunday he was disqualified because the team had set the ride height of his car below the FIA statutory limit. He was disqualified.
Hamilton tried to remain positive despite his obvious disappointment stating after the race: “I have absolute 100% faith in this team… I know that I’m coming into a new culture, a new team and it’s going to take time.”
On a number of occasions throughout the year, Lewis has hinted at the fact all is not well in Maranello and he wants to be part of driving change within the team. After finishing a disappointing 12rh place in Hungary, the British driver revealed that back at HQ: “There is a lot going on in the background that is not great.” READ MORE
Alex Stanton is a Formula 1 journalist at TJ13 with a focus on the financial and commercial dynamics that underpin the sport. Alex contributes reporting and analysis on team ownership structures, sponsorship trends, and the evolving business model of Formula 1.
At TJ13, Alex covers topics including manufacturer investment, cost cap implications, and the strategic direction of teams navigating an increasingly complex financial environment. Alex’s work often examines how commercial decisions translate into on-track performance and long-term competitiveness.
With a strong interest in the intersection of sport and business, Alex provides context around Formula 1’s global growth, including media rights, expansion markets, and manufacturer influence.
Alex’s reporting aims to explain the financial realities behind headline stories, helping readers understand how money, governance, and strategy shape the competitive order in Formula 1.
