At the start of the second practice session, rain clouds loomed over the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. The field was eager to hit the track, with most drivers opting for slick tires. However, Charles Leclerc remained in the garage, waiting for the right moment. His teammate, Carlos Sainz, ventured out on medium tires.
🚨| Ferrari has been fined €5.000 for using intermediate tyres when the track wasn't declared wet. #F1 #CanadianGP pic.twitter.com/tYLfjQnxii
— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) June 7, 2024
Ferrari’s mechanics swiftly swapped Charles Leclerc’s tires to intermediates, anticipating wet conditions. But there was a crucial oversight: the race director, Niels Wittich, had not officially declared the track wet. According to Article 30.5.L of Formula 1’s Sporting Regulations, intermediate and wet tires are only allowed after such a declaration. Unfortunately for Leclerc, he completed just one lap before returning to the pits as Ferrari realized their error.
The stewards wasted no time in penalizing Ferrari. A €5,000 fine was imposed for breaching the regulation. Leclerc’s lap times during FP2 were not representative due to the mixed and wet conditions, but the incident left the Scuderia red-faced.
Charles Leclerc Left Scratching His Head Over Ferrari’s ‘Strange’ Qualifying Slump in Canada
Charles Leclerc had confidently praised Ferrari’s performance across all weather conditions during the initial practice sessions. However, when it mattered most, the SF-24 lacked the grip needed to secure a top-ten spot. In Q2, Leclerc and Sainz could manage no better than 11th and 12th positions, leaving them frustrated and puzzled.
Charles Leclerc cited multiple issues: a sensor glitch, suboptimal session management, and an overall lack of pace. He expressed his surprise at the sudden drop in performance, especially after a strong showing in Monaco. The transition from a successful weekend on the streets of Monte Carlo to the Canadian track left the team scratching their heads.
Asked what went wrong, Leclerc replied: “Just slow, slow all day. Similar issues also to this morning, I had like a sensor issue, which was very annoying. The management of the session as well wasn’t the best, I think.
“All in all, it’s been a tough session. I would say that the biggest problem is the pace, we are so slow in the dry at the moment, we don’t understand.
Despite the qualifying disappointment, Leclerc remained optimistic about the race. He believed that Ferrari could still maximize their points in the Grand Prix. However, the dry conditions posed a challenge, and the team needed to regroup and analyze their shortcomings.
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