Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have avoided grid penalties for the Belgian Grand Prix after Ferrari were fined €5,000 for a tyre error during the first practice session.
The FIA announced the verdict, which means Ferrari will have to pay a total of €10,000 for the mistake. The error was related to the team's administrative tyre return, which is a minor infringement that typically results in a fine for the team rather than a penalty for the drivers.
According to reports, Ferrari made an error with their tyre selection during the first practice session, which led to the fine. The team's mistake did not have a significant impact on the drivers' performance, with Leclerc ending the session fourth overall.
Leclerc downplayed the incident, saying it was "no big deal". When asked about the tyre call over the radio, he was told by the team: "Sorry, that was a mistake." The mistake did not seem to affect Leclerc's confidence, as he went on to complete the session without any major issues.
The fine is a minor setback for Ferrari, who have been working to improve their performance in recent weeks. The team has been focusing on addressing their correlation issues, which were exposed by Hamilton in a recent interview. Hamilton revealed that Ferrari's new upgrade had not delivered the expected results, citing correlation issues as a major problem.
Despite the setback, Ferrari will be looking to bounce back in the Belgian Grand Prix. The team will be hoping to make the most of the remaining practice sessions to fine-tune their performance and challenge for a podium finish.
The Belgian Grand Prix is set to be an exciting event, with several teams vying for top spot. With Ferrari avoiding grid penalties, the stage is set for a thrilling competition. The question on everyone's mind is: can Ferrari overcome their recent struggles and mount a serious challenge for the championship?
Source: Sky Sports