F1 drivers had been told ahead of qualifying at Monza that they had to maintain a maximum delta time for all of their laps throughout the three segments – not just the in-laps as is normally the case.
It was made clear that only in “exceptional” circumstances as accepted by the stewards would drivers escape being deemed to have committed an offence.
The maximum time allowed between the two safety car lines was laid down by the FIA as 1m41s.
However, analysis of the lap times in Q1 showed that both Leclerc and Sainz delivered very slow out-laps prior to their final runs.
Leclerc was measured as having completed a lap time that was 1m50.286s, while Sainz’s out-lap was 1m58.458s – so both almost certainly breached the time between the safety car lines at either end of the pits.
The FIA had initially stated that both drivers’ actions would be investigated after qualifying, but shortly after Sainz grabbed pole position, it was announced that no further action would be taken.
Although there has been no formal explanation from the FIA about the reasoning for its decision, Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has explained why his duo was given the all-clear.
Source: Autosport