Possibly more grid penalties for Leclerc: 'Parts probably not reusable'

Only one race into the 2023 Formula 1 season is up, but Charles Leclerc is already facing a grid penalty. Moreover, more penalties may hang over the Ferrari driver's head during the season, as it seems the faulty control units cannot be repaired.

Possibly more grid penalties for Leclerc

The opening race in Bahrain ended in drama for Leclerc, who was on a podium course before he retired due to a faulty electronic control unit. Meanwhile, he saw his title rival from last year, Max Verstappen, drive unchallenged to victory. Before the race, Ferrari had replaced the part, but to no avail.

Ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, it turned out that both control units were beyond repair. As only two can be used per year, that means a grid penalty for Leclerc already in the second race of the year. At the same time, it also probably means more grid penalties will follow in the rest of the season.

Speaking to Sky Sports the 25-year-old Monegasque indicated that his team knows where the problem lies. "We understand these problems but as a result, I obviously need to take a penalty because I don’t think they are reusable. We don’t have the confirmation yet, but I don’t think so," he says.

To avoid a second grid penalty, Leclerc would have to drive with the same control unit for the rest of the season. Moreover, the problem would then have to not occur again, but the Ferrari driver says he is not afraid of that. "The team has told me that they understood the issue," Leclerc observes.