Charles Leclerc must start from the back of the grid at the Azerbaijan Formula 1 GP. The Ferrari driver will have a grid penalty after the Italian team chose to use a new power unit in the race in Baku.
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The engine involved is the same one used by Leclerc in the crash during the Italian GP in Monza. After further evaluations, the updated ADUO2 unit showed no damage that would compromise its operation and may return to the driver’s allocation for the rest of the season.
Leclerc had been without the engine in Madrid as a precaution, after the heavy crash on the second lap in Monza, when he spun alone at the Parabolica corner. As a result, he raced the Spanish GP with less power compared to teammate Lewis Hamilton and ended up being outqualified by the Briton, although he led much of the race before finishing fourth.
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According to the Italian edition of Motorsport.com, the subsequent evaluation confirmed that the engine did not suffer terminal damage. The trend, however, is that Leclerc will use this unit only in the Azerbaijan GP practice sessions, while a new unit will be installed for the race, causing the drop to the back of the grid.
The choice of Baku to serve the penalty is considered appropriate by Ferrari, due to the long pit straight of the circuit, which offers overtaking opportunities. The team principal, Fred Vasseur, had already anticipated the possibility during the Madrid weekend: “We will see when we have to serve an engine penalty with Charles, but I think Baku should work very well,” he concluded.
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