Leclerc finds it justified: 'We race hard, but Alonso went too far'

The incident and the resulting time penalty for Fernando Alonso is controversial. Some drivers think it is justified and others think it is excessive. Charles Leclerc thinks the penalty is justified, but actually hopes for a different way of punishing.

It is the talk of the day during media day in Japan. Just about every driver is asked their opinion on the George Russell and Fernando Alonso incident in Australia. Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc thinks the punishment was justified. "I mean, my view is that it's something that we do as drivers. However, not to that extent. And it was too much. I mean, what Fernando did in Australia was too much. And had to be penalised."

Leclerc wants different kind of penalties

Charles Leclerc thinks the whole system of penalties in Formula 1 needs to be looked at again. "However, I believe that there's something that we need to look into in terms of the penalty that we are giving. However, we've been working with time penalties for a long time."

According to the Monegasque driver, it is an unfair system because the driver depends on how far behind you the competition is. "If you are in a position like Fernando was, you only lose two places. I've always thought." The alternative Leclerc gives is to lose a position as a penalty. "I've always thought that I think positions of penalty is more fair because whatever the race situation you are in, you are penalised. You are penalised like you are intended to be penalised. However, with time penalty, there can  be inconsistencies like just depending on race situation. Let's try it."