Charles Leclerc was charged with using intermediate tyres at the Canadian Grand Prix after being heard by the stewards and Ferrari was fined €5,000.
Friday practice in Montreal was marked by changeable weather conditions, with the FP2 session starting on a greasy surface that blurred the line between intermediate and dry tyres.
Charles Leclerc and Ferrari intercepted too early
Leclerc was on intermediate tyres for his first attempt at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in this session, but Ferrari sent him out on track as the track needs to be declared wet to allow the use of wet tyres.
The stewards therefore summoned Leclerc after the session to discuss the highly unusual infringement and decided to fine Ferrari €5,000 for breaking the rules.
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“The stewards spoke to team representatives and reviewed the video evidence,” the report begins.
“Car #16 left the pit lane on intermediate tyres at the start of the session, even though the track had not been declared wet, and returned to the pits one lap later.
“This amounts to a breach of Article 30.5.l), which allows the use of intermediate or wet tyres only after the track has been declared wet by the race director.”
Weather conditions meant that the timing screens for both FP1 and FP2 were not fully representative, but Ferrari will be pleased to have both Carlos Sainz and Leclerc finish in the top three in FP1, with Leclerc finishing in fourth place, Ferrari’s best result, in FP2.
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