F1 Ferrari: Charles Leclerc contradicts Mattia Binotto

Charles Leclerc unlike Ferrari’s team principal believes the 5-second penalty he had in Japan is fair

In the fiery post-race aftermath of the Japanese Grand Prix, Ferrari’s team principal had called the penalty given to Charles Leclerc for cutting the chicane at the end of the Japanese race “ridiculous and unacceptable”: a 5-second penalty that had cost the Monegasque his second place, thus arithmetically awarding the World Championship to Max Verstappen.

“Leclerc did not gain position or time, when we saw the note they were quiet. This time it was decided without even listening to the drivers, unlike Singapore,” Binotto had said.

Instead, Charles Leclerc at Motorsport microphones admitted the mistake and accepted the penalty: “When I made the mistake I tried to minimize it by trying to go straight. I didn’t know it was the last lap, but 5 seconds penalty was fair, if I have to be honest,” are the words of the Monegasque.