Stroll Penalized for Collision with Leclerc in Monaco GP Practice
Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll has incurred a one-place grid penalty for the Monaco Grand Prix following a collision with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc during the opening practice session. The incident occurred just nine minutes into the session at the hairpin, when Stroll veered towards the racing line, leading Leclerc to collide into the rear of his car.
Stroll asserted over team radio that he did not hear instructions from his race engineer regarding Leclerc’s approach. The collision resulted in significant damage to both vehicles, with Leclerc requiring a replacement front wing and Stroll’s session concluding early due to rear suspension and gearbox issues.
The FIA stewards concluded that Stroll was wholly at fault, stating, “Car 16 was not in a position to avoid the collision.” Their findings indicated that Stroll had moved across the track, interfering with Leclerc’s hot lap. As a result of the incident, Stroll received a grid penalty and a penalty point, bringing his total to three in a twelve-month period.
Leclerc, undeterred by the incident, led the session with a fastest lap time of 1m11.964s, a mark that remained unbeaten, placing him ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and McLaren’s Lando Norris.
This incident highlights the high-stakes environment of Formula 1, particularly at the challenging Monaco circuit, where positioning and communication are critically important. The incident and subsequent penalties will be closely watched as teams prepare for the race.
