BREAKING:FIA Confirms Charles Leclerc Disqualif…Read more
FIA Clears Charles Leclerc After Imola Incident Ahead of Canadian Grand Prix
As the paddock shifts its focus to this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, the FIA has delivered its much-anticipated verdict on Charles Leclerc’s controversial tangle with Alex Albon at the Imola Grand Prix.
During the closing stages of the Emilia‑Romagna race, Leclerc and Albon battled fiercely for fourth place. Albon attempted an outside pass at Turn 2, resulting in the Williams driver being forced into the gravel and losing his opportunity to challenge Lewis Hamilton. Immediately following the incident, race control opened an investigation .
Ferrari, anticipating the scrutiny, promptly directed Leclerc to return the position to Albon as a gesture of goodwill. The move was executed swiftly, with Leclerc complying before stewards could make a formal adjudication. “Before we could conclude our investigations… car 16 voluntarily gave the position back to mitigate the alleged breach. In the circumstances, we took no further action,” the FIA statement confirmed .
Inside the cockpit, Leclerc was visibly frustrated. He voiced his discontent over team orders and the regulatory environment, exclaiming that the situation was “a f**king joke,” emphasising his confusion amid the team’s instructions .
Despite his ire, Leclerc’s compliance was conclusive. The FIA confirmed no penalties would be levied, allowing the Italian driver to take sixth place at Imola—two spots behind team‑mate Hamilton—with a strong drive from P11 on the grid .
As Ferrari and Leclerc turn north to Montreal, the resolution provides a clean slate. The team will aim to capitalise on their pace and avoid any distractions this weekend. With the verdict behind them, eyes now shift to the high-speed challenges of Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
