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Leclerc gets Monaco grid drop as stewards chastise Ferrari
Sun 28, May, 2023
Source: The Race

Charles Leclerc has been sanctioned for impeding Lando Norris in qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix, ceding third place on the grid to Alpine’s Esteban Ocon.

Leclerc will drop from third to sixth thanks to a three-place grid penalty, with team-mate Carlos Sainz and Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton also promoted at the local hero’s expense.

The stewards’ verdict effectively absolved Leclerc of blame – but said it was his Ferrari team’s communication that created the “unnecessary impeding” and stressed that in “every” past precedent “the inaction of the team did not mitigate” the penalty.