The stewards explained why Leclerc was punished after the finish of the Japanese Grand Prix

 The stewards explained why Leclerc was punished after the finish of the Japanese Grand Prix

The stewards of the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix have published an official document explaining why the Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc received a five-second penalty immediately after the finish of the race. On the last lap, the Monegasque, holding back the pilot of Red Bull Sergio Perez, cut off the final chicane and then blocked the Mexican from the optimal exit to the starting straight. It follows from the decision of the judges that Leclerc received the penalty precisely for cutting the chicane, although Perez did not attack the Ferrari driver in front of it.

“Although car #16 didn’t win back the position by going off the track, it still got a long-term advantage. We are making this determination in light of numerous driver briefings in which race directors have said that going off the track and returning in the same spot during defense would be considered an “advantage”. There were a number of precedents this year - especially with Zhou in Saudi Arabia and Alonso in Miami, ”the stewards’ decision reads.