Leclerc’s penalty prediction will come accurate as Russell receives 3-area grid fall

George Russell has been presented a 3 area grid penalty for the United States Grand Prix dash race following the stewards dominated he impeded Charles Leclerc for the duration of today’s qualifying session.

The Mercedes driver will now start off eleventh. Alexander Albon, Pierre Gasly and Daniel Ricciardo each and every transfer up a area, to eighth, ninth and tenth respectively.

Russell was driving on the racing line at decreased pace approaching the last corner as Leclerc, who was on a traveling lap, caught him. The Ferrari driver experienced to quickly transfer to the remaining to stay clear of the Mercedes in the initial session of dash race qualifying at Circuit of the Americas.

Leclerc straight away predicted his rival would be penalised, remarking “and a penalty for Mr Russell, thank you” on his radio.

The stewards agreed Russell “unnecessarily” impeded Leclerc, who was pressured to abort his lap at the conclusion of the initial section of qualifying. Leclerc progressed to the last spherical of qualifying and took next on the grid for today’s race driving Max Verstappen.

“Car sixty three (Russell) entered the previous two corners making ready for his traveling lap at the conclusion of SQ1 with vehicle sixteen (Leclerc) closing in speedily,” the stewards described.

“Whilst the workforce did notify the driver about the closing vehicle a couple of seconds in progress, there was no more info instantly prior to vehicle sixty three entered switch 19 with vehicle sixteen appropriate driving. Car or truck sixty three did not transfer from the racing line in or following switch 19 and consequently unnecessarily impeded vehicle sixteen.

“The stewards take note that irrespective of any info coming from the workforce, it is the driver’s obligation to assure that no other autos are unnecessarily impeded.”