BREAKING: Ferrari postpones decision on Leclerc gearbox
F1 News
- GPblog.com
It was such an incredibly exciting qualifying session in Monaco this year that until long after the flag fell it could not be said with certainty who would start at the front on Sunday. Charles Leclerc had indeed driven the fastest time, but also folded up his Ferrari. Can it be repaired without incurring a grid penalty was now the big question.
Hours after the end of the qualifying session we still don't have an answer to this question and we won't get it today either. Ferrari tells us on Twitter that the damage to the gearbox after the first inspection doesn't seem to be too bad, but they will decide tomorrow whether they will actually replace it or not.
UPDATE: An initial inspection of the gearbox in @Charles_Leclerc’s car has not revealed any serious damage. Further checks will be carried out tomorrow, to decide if the same gearbox can be used in the race.#MonacoGP
— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) May 22, 2021
Starting position is crucial in Monaco
Not only Leclerc will be in a state of uncertainty because of this, but also the drivers behind him, like Max Verstappen. They all hope to benefit from a possible grid penalty due to a gearbox change at Ferrari. The grid was so tight during qualifying that a gap of just a few tenths would be catastrophic for the chances of Carlos Sainz and certainly Lewis Hamilton, who will need a lot of luck to make up so many places during the race.