During the second practice session of the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc was called in by the stewards due to an unusual double infraction. The Ferrari driver experienced a gearbox issue and had to retire at the end of the shortened session, which was disrupted by two red flags in the latter half.
Leclerc communicated with his race engineer, mentioning, “Something broke, gearbox. Can you shift?” The engineer advised him not to shift gears. This problem caused Leclerc to miss several laps towards the end of FP2, and now he is facing potential additional challenges as he undergoes two investigations for allegedly violating FIA F1 sporting regulations.
The allegations claim Leclerc did not change his steering wheel or deactivate the ERS after his Ferrari abruptly stopped. The FIA stewards’ official summons reads: “This is an alleged breach of Article 26.5 of the FIA F1 Sporting Regulations. The driver failed to change the steering wheel and failed to switch off the ERS.”
Leclerc had initially topped the opening practice in Las Vegas but ended up third in FP2, trailing McLaren’s championship leader Lando Norris by 0.161 seconds. The session faced interruptions from two red flags caused by a suspected loose manhole cover at Turn 17, leading to delays and confusion that clouded the true competitive order ahead of the final practice and qualifying.
Fan Take: This incident highlights the relentless technical and regulatory challenges drivers face in F1, and Leclerc’s situation is a reminder that even small oversights can have big consequences. For racing fans, this adds another layer of intrigue, as how teams and drivers manage such setbacks can significantly impact the championship battle and the sport’s competitive drama.
