Not only Charles Leclerc: penalties also for both Williams drivers in Abu Dhabi. Both Alex Albon and Franco Colapinto will start with a five-position grid penalty in Abu Dhabi.

The final weekend of the 2024 Formula 1 season got off to a bad start for Ferrari and Charles Leclerc, who will face a 10-place grid penalty for having fitted a new battery pack. This penalty makes the task even harder for the Scuderia, as they now have to recover the 21 points separating them from McLaren in the Constructors’ Championship battle.

The first Free Practice session of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was not a sporting nightmare just for Ferrari, but also for the two Williams drivers. Both Alex Albon and Franco Colapinto will serve a five-position penalty each for replacing the gearbox. Both drivers have exceeded the maximum allowed components under the regulations, with the Argentine driver previously having already received the same penalty.

It’s been a tough and unlucky period for the Grove team, with accidents and limited spare parts available: “It’s an unfortunate consequence of the incidents that occurred during last week’s Grand Prix, which were beyond Alex and Franco’s control,” the team explained in a statement. “But we’ll give our best to finish the season on a positive note.”