Charles Leclerc involved in SURPRISE Belgian Grand Prix grid penalty

Charles Leclerc in Monaco — Photo: © LAT Images

Belgian Grand Prix

Leclerc involved in SURPRISE Belgian Grand Prix grid penalty

The Ferrari man was held up by Kevin Magnussen in Friday's qualifying session

Chris Deeley

Friday 28 July 2023 21:45

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Kevin Magnussen has been demoted three places on the grid for Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix, after race stewards found that he impeded Charles Leclerc in Friday's qualifying session.

The demotion will have the Haas driver starting 16th on the grid, bumping Valtteri Bottas, Esteban Ocon and Alex Albon up by a position each.

The incident occurred shortly after Magnussen had taken an off-track excursion, staying on the dry line through the next handful of corners despite Leclerc on a fast lap behind him.

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Leclerc was audibly frustrated on team radio, saying: "What the ****? I don't know who that guy was, the Haas, but I hope he gets a penalty."

FIA Statement

An FIA statement read: "Magnussen left the track at Turn 9 and made contact with the wall. He then rejoined and drove the dry line. Leclerc, who was on a fast lap, caught Magnussen who did not give way until turn 16. Magnussen explained that he did not feel it was safe to move off onto the wet at speed and give room to Leclerc, particularly in the turns between 11 and 15.

"The Stewards observed that he did not receive a warning from his team that Leclerc was behind until Leclerc was right behind him at turn 10. The team also told him to push, as he needed to make it to the line to get another lap.

"Whether it was his failure to slow and yield following his accident, or whether it was the team’s failure to give information early enough that he could have pulled off earlier, or whether it was the instruction to push through the lap; in any case the Stewards determine that he unnecessarily impeded Leclerc."