Leclerc Kicked Out Of Points After Penalty Following Qatar Sprint Race

Saturday, 07 October 2023 at 22:08

Updated at Tuesday, 10 October 2023 at 22:32

Scuderia Ferrari F1 driver Charles Leclerc was kicked out of point position following a 5-second penalty after the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix Sprint Race.

The 2023 Qatar Sprint Race was packed with action from the first lap. Charles Leclerc had an amazing start when he went from sixth position on the grid to third place in a matter of the first two corners. Leclerc started the sprint on a set of used soft tires, which helped him with the start but would be a disadvantage later.

The soft compound tires were not ideal for the rough track surface and hot temperatures of the Lusail International Circuit. Consequently, all the drivers that started the race on soft compound started trembling down the grid towards the end of the race.

Leclerc, racing in fourth position behind his teammate Carlos Sainz, George Rusell, and Oscar Piastri, eventually fell to seventh position when he got overtaken by Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, and Lewis Hamilton, all driving on the medium compound tires.

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Leclerc shared his frustration on the team radio following the final lap of the race, saying that Ferrari as a team "could have done quite a better job."

On the positive side, the Monegasque driver also said the pace was there, and he has saved one set of medium compound tires (which seemed to work well) for the Sunday race.

The Saturday just got a bit worse for Leclerc after the race when FIA issued a document awarding the driver with a 5-second penalty due to leaving the track "on four (4) occasions without justifiable reason".

Consequently, the Ferrari driver has been kicked out of the points to 12th position. Leclerc will get a chance to redeem himself on Sunday's race, where he will start from fifth place alongside the winner of the sprint race - Oscar Piastri in sixth place.