The 2023 Monaco Grand Prix Qualifying can go from bad to worse for Charles Leclerc. The Monegasque set a lap time of 1:11.471 which put him on P3. His lap time was bettered by Fernando Alonso and Max Verstappen, who will be starting on pole for the race on Sunday.
However, Leclerc might be in trouble as the FIA have announced that they will be investigating Leclerc impeding Lando Norris at Turn 9. The incident happened in the final stages of Q3, with Norris on a flying lap. Leclerc, who was setting up for a lap, allegedly blocked the racing line of Norris inside the tunnel.
Fans have already started speculating what kind of penalty Leclerc might be on the receiving end of if the FIA does indeed dish out a penalty. There can be a range of penalties given out, from deleting the best time of Leclerc to giving him a grid penalty.
What kind of penalty will Charles Leclerc Recieve
Former F1 World Champion Jenson Button believes that Leclerc will have his best time deleted. He said that two cars cannot really go through the tunnel together. And even if they do, the car behind loses a lot of downforces. “I would say he impeded him, he 100% impeded him, he had nowhere to go. I think he’ll have his time taken away, his quickest time in qualifying.”
Other fans have stated that according to Sky Sports Italia, the maximum penalty that Leclerc can receive is a three-place grid penalty.
according to sky sport italy, the penalty that can be given is 3 positions, therefore charles would start behind hamilton in p6.#monacoGP pic.twitter.com/K3QyIJtSM2
— leclerc data (@leclercdata) May 27, 2023
Charles Leclerc fans are distraught after they learn about the possible penalties
As expected, Charles Leclerc fans are worried about what kind of penalty is coming for their Monegasque hero. Twitter user clara exclaimed that she’d be okay if Leclerc was made to pay a million euros but the FIA should not take away his position.
FIA, MAKE CHARLES PAY A MILLION EUROS BUT DONT TAKE HIS POSITION PLEASE pic.twitter.com/1pCRrVX8J6
— clara (@leclercsletters) May 27, 2023
Another fan commented that they would appear on the news as they would be wreaking havoc if Leclerc gets a penalty for this.
I’m about to appear on the news if this happens
— Charles Monaco Race Suit (@CharlesRacesuit) May 27, 2023
Another fan claimed that these penalties are not given to anyone else, not even Carlos Sainz.
they literally never give this penalty to any fucking one like carlos for example that does it ALL the time istg
— giu 🏎️🔮🕯️ (@giuliaagraziani) May 27, 2023
Even though some fans couldn’t believe that Leclerc would be penalized, some more neutral ones agreed that it was definitely impeding.
Definite impeding case there with Leclerc in the tunnel and Norris getting blocked
— Junaid #JB17 (@JunaidSamodien_) May 27, 2023
Whether Charles Leclerc would be getting a penalty is yet to be known. And if he does indeed get one, what will it be? Fans would be eagerly looking forward to the decision of the FIA.
