F1 News
Masi explains Charles Leclerc release fine
- Bevan Youl
Race director Michael Masi has given further detail on the reasons for Charles Leclerc’s fine for an unsafe release during the German Grand Prix.
Amongst the chaos that happened during the German GP it was questioned when Leclerc's Ferrari was released unsafely from the pits and almost collided with the Haas of Romain Grosjean.
No penalty was given but instead the team received a fine soon after for the unsafe release.
But questions continued as back in Monaco Max Verstappen was handed a five-second time penalty after an unsafe release in which he hit Valtteri Bottas.
Masi said (quoted by PitPass): "In Monaco, for clarification, it was labelled an unsafe release but it was actually for causing a collision in the pit lane.
"So that's why that was different to Germany, which was clearly an unsafe release.
"Part of the discussion we had with team managers the other day, knowing the conditions could be changeable, and also taking into account everyone coming into the pit lane to do tyres at the same time is going to be a factor, it is still quite clearly consistent with the previous penalties.
"The fact that every other team thereafter was out didn't, even though the fast lane is as wide as it is, didn't allow what we saw at Silverstone with the car driving on the painted area."
Masi went on to dismiss the idea that teams now may try to opt for a fine after the race rather than take a penalty during pit stops or at the end.
"I don't think so," he added.
"I'm very much a firm believer, and the teams all agree, that you treat each case on its own merits.
"As much as you can try and group things, generally, you have to treat each and every circumstance that comes up, and judge it, so yeah I think in the end that's pretty straightforward."