P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Leclerc, Bottas and Zhou escape penalties despite lap time limit breach
During the first segment of qualifying at Suzuka, the Ferrari driver and Alfa Romeo pair were investigated for exceeding the maximum lap time delta of 1m54 seconds. However, all three were cleared by the stewards. The FIA had announced before the weekend that a maximum time limit would be enforced during qualifying, following the absence of such enforcement in Singapore. The stewards noted that all drivers maintained speeds necessary to stay within the limit for the majority of the circuit. Despite exceeding the time limit, it was determined that the drivers took appropriate actions to slow down and stay to the side of the track, allowing other drivers to pass. Therefore, no further action was taken. Leclerc explained that he had been placed in a difficult position during Q1 and had to let cars past, resulting in him being slightly above the maximum time. This is not the first time Leclerc and Sainz have been faced with this issue, as they were also let off for the same offense during qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix.
Source: Crash
