how Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton start 2025

From one yr to the subsequent
The 2024 Components 1 season has simply ended, however one factor ties the lately concluded championship to the one set to start in Australia on March 16, that includes a grid half-renewed with rookies and driver transfers: penalties. The notorious penalty factors — which this yr price Kevin Magnussen a race suspension — final for 12 months, that means all drivers will carry over their penalty factors from the 2024 season into the subsequent championship.

Significantly in danger at first of the subsequent season are two distinguished names on the grid: Fernando Alonso and Max Verstappen. Each drivers, who’ve typically been among the many most vocal critics of the stewards’ penalty choices throughout numerous GPs, will start the yr with eight penalty factors every, simply 4 factors away from a race suspension. Nevertheless, Fernando Alonso wants solely to keep away from main incidents within the first two races: three of his eight factors will expire on March 24, the day after the second Grand Prix of the yr.

Fernando Alonso in danger, Max Verstappen much more so
If the Spaniard avoids main infractions between Melbourne and China, his disciplinary scenario will enhance additional: a further three factors will expire on April 20. Verstappen, then again, is in a considerably worse place. The four-time world champion gained’t have any factors expiring till June 30. This implies he should keep away from accruing greater than 4 penalty factors through the first 11 Grands Prix, or he’ll face a race suspension.

Relating to the potential of being pressured to overlook a race, the Dutch driver himself joked after the Abu Dhabi GP, the place he was penalized with a 10-second penalty and two penalty factors following an incident with Oscar Piastri. Talking to journalists, the soon-to-be father stated he’s prepared to make use of the potential suspension as “paternity go away” to attend the start of his little one. This quip underscores the tense relationship between the #1 driver and the FIA stewards.

No downside for Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, who start the 2025 Components 1 championship with no penalty factors:

Jan 1, 2025Elena Rossi

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