Changing weather conditions at the start of the 2024 Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix have left teams unsure of which tires to bring to the track. In the first practice session, the fastest times were achieved on the soft slick tires after a respite from the storm, and it looked like the situation would be the same at the start of the second session.
However, Ferrari divided their strategies, taking to the asphalt of the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve with the medium compound with Carlos Sainz and the intermediate with Charles Leclerc. This led the FIA to take action, as the Monegasque violated article 30.5 l) of the international federation’s sporting regulations because the session was not declared wet.
In the end, after listening to the explanations of the people involved, it was concluded that this deserved a fine of 5,000 euros, because they ran on intermediate tires when the session had not been declared wet: “Car 16 left the pits with intermediate tires at the start of the session even though the track had not been declared wet, and returned to the pits after one lap.”
“This constitutes a violation of Article 30.5 (l), which allows the use of intermediate or wet tires only after the track has been declared wet by the race director,” the statement read.
This is rather curious, given that the Maranello team thought it was a good idea to go out on intermediate tires to be prepared in case the rain came suddenly, as it did, forcing the entire grid to use those tires. As a result, Fernando Alonso ended the day at the top of qualifying with a time of 1’15″810, ahead of George Russell and Lance Stroll, while Charles Leclerc, curiously, placed fourth, but not with the soft tires, but with the mediums.
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