Leclerc’s SF-25 under FIA scrutiny after 'illegal car' theory raised by Russell

07:52, 28 Aug

byTobia Elia

The FIA announced that it inspected the cars of Charles Leclerc, George Russell, and Fernando Alonso at the end of the Hungarian Grand Prix, conducting more in-depth random checks on the vehicles that finished in the top 10. Here’s what was found.

What happened to Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari at the last Grand Prix before the summer break has been something of a mystery.

The Monegasque driver had pulled a rabbit out of the hat on Saturday, outpacing both McLarens to claim his first pole of the season.

During the race, Leclerc showed he could keep pace with Norris and Piastri, only to falter in the final stint, losing not just the win but also a podium spot to George Russell.

Russell himself tried to offer an explanation after the race, suggesting a theory that Ferrari may have increased tire pressures in the final stint to raise the car and avoid another disqualification due to excessive plank wear, following what happened in China earlier this season.

Leclerc, on the other hand, attributed the sudden drop in pace to a chassis issue, which progressively worsened and caused him to lose several seconds per lap.

George Russell and Charles Leclerc in Hungary

FIA inspects Leclerc and Russell's cars

All of this occurred during the weekend when Ferrari was testing the effectiveness of its new rear suspension, following an initial shakedown at Mugello and the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa, where Leclerc had returned to the podium.

At the end of the Hungarian Grand Prix, the cars of Leclerc and Russell, along with Fernando Alonso’s, were selected for FIA random checks. The FIA conducted thorough analyses on the vehicles but found no irregularities.

Read the full document below.