Ferrari has been penalized with a €10,000 fine after an unsafe pitlane release involving Charles Leclerc during the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix practice. The incident unfolded on Friday night when Leclerc was sent out from the Ferrari garage into McLaren’s Lando Norris, causing a collision in the fast lane.
Details of the Pitlane Collision Between Ferrari and McLaren
During the second practice session at the Singapore GP, Charles Leclerc was released from the Ferrari pit box at a moment when Lando Norris was already driving past in the fast lane. The resulting contact damaged Norris’s front wing, forcing the McLaren driver to return to his garage for repairs. The incident disrupted the flow of practice laps for both teams.
The FIA race stewards conducted an investigation and determined that Ferrari’s team member responsible for Leclerc’s release misjudged the situation. The stewards referenced how Leclerc was instructed to leave his pit box without noticing that Norris’s car was already approaching in the adjacent fast lane.
“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 explained.
“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.
“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.”
Leclerc’s Explanation Regarding the Pitlane Mix-up
Charles Leclerc addressed the situation following the incident, highlighting the confusion caused by the timing of two McLarens leaving the garage in quick succession. He stated that this led to a misunderstanding about when he should have stayed put.
“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. 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.”
Disruptions to Practice Session at Singapore GP
The clash between Leclerc and Norris was part of a chaotic second practice session that featured multiple interruptions. The session was red flagged twice due to separate incidents involving George Russell and Liam Lawson, hampering many teams’ running plans and adding pressure on drivers and crews to maximize limited track time.
Implications of the Pitlane Breach and What Lies Ahead
The fine imposed by the FIA underscores the critical importance of pitlane safety protocols, especially during hectic periods when teams rush to complete laps. Ferrari’s mistake highlights how split-second decisions and miscommunications can have costly consequences, both financially and in terms of on-track performance.
The aftermath stresses the need for clearer communication between team members and drivers to avoid similar unsafe releases in future sessions. Teams will likely review their pitlane procedures before the Singapore Grand Prix race to prevent further penalties and ensure driver safety.
With the Singapore GP weekend progressing, every detail matters as drivers and squads compete for crucial points in a challenging street circuit environment. Ferrari’s €10,000 fine adds to the growing tension among teams eager to recover from disrupted practice runs and perform well on race day.
