Unsafe release triggers pitlane clash and front-wing damage for Norris
Ferrari has been handed a €10,000 fine for unsafely releasing Charles Leclerc into the path of Lando Norris during a chaotic restart phase in second practice at the Singapore Grand Prix. As teams scrambled to rejoin the action following a red flag, Leclerc was sent from his garage into the fast lane just as Norris approached, resulting in contact that damaged the McLaren’s front wing and sent it into the pit wall. Norris had to be pulled back into the garage for repairs.
The incident unfolded after a series of stoppages that repeatedly broke up the rhythm of FP2. In the congested pitlane, Ferrari’s release placed Leclerc directly into Norris’s trajectory. The stewards reviewed video and in-car footage and concluded that the team member responsible for Car 16’s release had misjudged the situation and gave unclear instructions, with Leclerc unable to see the oncoming McLaren.
Stewards' reasoning and penalty
- Unsafe release confirmed: The decision cited a misjudgement by the team and unclear instructions to Leclerc at the moment of release.
- Damage and collision: Both cars made contact in the fast lane; Norris’s front wing was broken in the incident.
- Sanction: Ferrari was fined €10,000, with the stewards noting that precedents warranted a more severe penalty in this case.
Leclerc's explanation
Speaking after the session, Leclerc described "a bit of confusion" in the Ferrari garage at the time of the restart and downplayed the episode as one of those moments that can occur in the intensity of practice: "These things happen." No sporting penalty was applied to the driver; the responsibility was placed on the team for the unsafe release.
The clash added another twist to an already stop-start evening at Marina Bay, where precision in the pitlane is as crucial as performance on track. With qualifying looming, both teams will be eager to avoid any repeat of the high-pressure miscue.
