Charles Leclerc faces potential grid penalty in Baku

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc is facing a potential grid penalty at the Baku Grand Prix following a violent crash at Monza. The accident, which occurred at the Parabolica during the second lap of the Italian Grand Prix, caused significant damage to his car and forced a red flag.

Ferrari has been conducting extensive inspections on the upgraded power unit involved in the crash to determine if it can be reused. While reports suggest that no irreparable damage was found, the team is reportedly hesitant to risk racing the unit again.

As a result, the current plan involves Leclerc using the Monza engine during Friday practice sessions in Azerbaijan before switching to a fresh unit for the rest of the weekend. This move would exceed his allocated component quota, triggering a penalty. Team principal Fred Vasseur has indicated that Baku is the most suitable location to absorb this penalty.