Leclerc pole at risk as FIA opens investigation

Ewan Gale
Saturday 9 April 2022 14:07 - Updated: 14:59

Australian Grand Prix pole-winner Charles Leclerc has been summoned to the FIA stewards for allegedly "driving unnecessarily slowly on an in lap" during qualifying.

Leclerc trumped title rival Max Verstappen by over a quarter of a second at Albert Park with a stellar final lap of the session.

It was the Monégasque's second pole of the season but he has been called to the stewards' room for a potential infraction during Q1.

Driving unnecessarily slowly has been outlined as part of FIA race director Niels Wittich's event notes all season, as it was with Michael Masi last year, and refers to Article 33.4 of F1's sporting regulations.

The championship leader will visit the stewards to defend his case, with an outcome potentially handing pole to Verstappen.

Yuki Tsunoda is also under investigation for the same offence.