Ferrari Faces Financial Penalty for Rule Violation in F1’s Imola Race

The Italian racing powerhouse, Ferrari, found itself in hot water after being fined €5,000 (approximately £4,200) for tampering with tyre pressures during the Imola Grand Prix. The team was summoned to the stewards following suspicions that they had breached regulations concerning tyre pressure adjustments on Charles Leclerc’s vehicle during Friday’s practice session.

Strict Tyre Regulations and Their Importance

Stringent rules govern the permitted limits of tyre pressures and temperatures, which are established by Pirelli, the tyre suppliers, to ensure the safety of the tyres and monitor adjustments in pressure.

The sport’s governing body, the FIA, issued a statement confirming that Ferrari had indeed breached Article 30.5 a) of the FIA Formula 1 sporting regulations by failing to adhere to these procedures. The fine is a consequence of similar operational tyre infringements in the past.

Despite the financial penalty, Ferrari may face greater challenges this weekend, as Leclerc admitted that his team is finding it difficult to keep pace with McLaren, who topped second practice in Italy.

Leclerc’s Struggles and Team’s Aspirations

In an interview, Leclerc expressed his concerns about the first row being a challenging prospect. He stated that even securing a place in the second row would be a significant achievement for them, as their current performance suggests they are more likely to qualify for the third row if everything goes well.

Leclerc’s teammate, Lewis Hamilton, also experienced difficulties around the Imola circuit and came close to colliding with the barriers during FP1. At the end of the second practice session in Italy, Leclerc and Hamilton finished sixth and 11th respectively.

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