Monaco Grand Prix: Stroll Penalized for Collision with Leclerc in FP1
Monaco—Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll has been slapped with a one-place grid penalty for the upcoming Monaco Grand Prix following a collision with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc during Friday’s opening practice session. The incident occurred just nine minutes into the session at the hairpin, when Stroll crossed the racing line, leaving Leclerc no chance to avoid rear-ending him.
According to the FIA’s statement, the stewards concluded that Stroll was entirely at fault for the collision. The inquiry involved testimonials from both drivers, team representatives, and a review of various data sources, including timing and in-car video evidence. The statement specified, "Car 18 cut across the path of Car 16 at Turn 6, causing Car 16 to collide into Car 18."
Stroll reported not hearing his engineer’s warning about Leclerc’s approach, claiming miscommunication. The damage incurred from the collision prompted Aston Martin to replace Stroll’s gearbox, though he will not regain lost track time from the session. Team principal Andy Cowell admitted to flaws in the radio communication, stating, "Our radio call wasn’t clear enough. We need to learn from that."
Leclerc sustained minor damage but returned to the track, ultimately setting the fastest time of the session at 1m11.964s. He was followed by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and McLaren’s Lando Norris, completing the top three.
The incident has added a layer of complexity to Stroll’s season; he now accumulates three penalty points over the past 12 months. A total of 12 points would result in a race ban, intensifying the stakes for the Canadian driver as the season progresses.
