Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Sporting ExcitementSporting Excitement

Formula 1

Lewis Hamilton boost ahead of Saudi Arabian GP with rival set to receive TEN-PLACE grid penalty after Bahrain incident

, Lewis Hamilton boost ahead of Saudi Arabian GP with rival set to receive TEN-PLACE grid penalty after Bahrain incident

CHARLES LECLERC has been slapped with a ten-place grid penalty for this weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

The Ferrari star was forced to retire in Bahrain due to issues with his car’s electronic control unit [ECU].

Charles Leclerc will face a ten-place grid penalty this weekend

Leclerc, 25, had been in third place before being forced to quit.

Ferrari experienced issues with Leclerc’s ECU on the morning of the race, before similar problems with its replacement forced their star man out of the opening GP of the season.

Competition rules dictate that teams can only go through two ECUs in the space of an entire campaign.

With Ferrari already requiring a third, Leclerc will have to start Sunday’s Saudi GP with a ten-place penalty.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

Speaking about the issue, Prancing Horse team principal Frederic Vasseur said: “It is something we have never experienced in the past and I hope now it is under control.

“But unfortunately we will have to take the penalty in Jeddah because we only have a pool of two ECUs for the season.”

Despite being on track for a place on the podium, Leclerc had been way off the pace set by Red Bulls Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.

After the Monegasque’s retirement, veteran Fernando Alonso pounced to grab the third spot on the podium, with Leclerc’s team-mate Carlos Sainz coming fourth.

HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON THE CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL

Leclerc’s Ferrari was forced to retire from the Bahrain GP a fortnight ago

Lewis Hamilton came fifth, with his Mercedes team-mate George Russell in seventh and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll between them in sixth.

On his team’s prospects this weekend, Vasseur added: “I can’t be satisfied with the situation and I want to do a step forward.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

“The characteristics of Jeddah are completely different compared to Bahrain and already it will swing a little more to what we have today and we will also bring some updates to Jeddah and I hope we will do a step forward.”

Mercedes, meanwhile, reportedly held an emergency meeting following their underwhelming start to the season.

Hamilton, who has been linked with a sensational move to Ferrari, aired his frustrations with his current team after the Bahrain GP.

He said: “Last year, there were things I told them, I said the issues that are with the car.

“I’ve driven so many cars in my life, so I know what a car needs, I know what a car doesn’t need. And I think it’s really about accountability.

“It’s about owning up and saying, ‘Yeah, you know what? We didn’t listen to you. It’s not where it used to be and we’ve got to work’.

“We’ve got to look into the balance through the corners, look at all the weak points and just huddle up as a team, that’s what we do.

“We’re still multi world champions you know, it’s just they haven’t got it right this time, they didn’t get it right last year, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get it right moving forwards.”

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

, Lewis Hamilton boost ahead of Saudi Arabian GP with rival set to receive TEN-PLACE grid penalty after Bahrain incident
Lewis Hamilton has been linked with a stunning move to Ferrari

Advertisement
Advertisement

Latest

Golf

The highly anticipated Ryder Cup is back, and this time it's in Rome! The event, set to kick off on Friday, will feature some...

Golf

Wendy Lowry, the wife of major winner Shane, has been spotted in Rome alongside several other Ryder Cup WAGs ahead of Friday's big tee-off....

Boxing

Just weeks before their highly anticipated crossover clash, Francis Ngannou has accused Tyson Fury of being a glove "cheat." The former UFC heavyweight champion...

Cricket

Caught on Camera Asia Cup star and Pakistan cricket captain, Babar Azam, was caught on camera looking dismayed after being pulled over by traffic...

Golf

Rapid Rise to Fame Just three months after turning professional, Ludvig Aberg has been selected as a wildcard to represent Europe at the prestigious...

Golf

Italian-American Model Takes on Hosting Role Melissa Satta, the well-known Italian-American model and singer, has made a significant career change by securing a role...

Advertisement
Advertisement

Facebook

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement