Breaking: Ferrari F1 star set for grid penalty at next race in Azerbaijan following… Read more

Ferrari F1 star set for grid penalty at next race in Azerbaijan

Ferrari are facing another major strategic decision heading into the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, with Charles Leclerc expected to take a grid penalty in Baku as the team manages his power-unit allocation following his heavy crash at Monza. �

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The situation has developed into one of the key talking points ahead of the next Formula 1 weekend. Ferrari have not yet formally confirmed the engine change, but reports indicate that the team is preparing for Leclerc to use a fresh power unit for the race, which would put him beyond his permitted allocation and trigger a grid penalty. �

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The Monza crash behind the situation

Leclerc’s problem began at the Italian Grand Prix when he suffered a heavy crash at the Parabolica during the early stages of Ferrari’s home race.

The incident immediately raised concerns about Ferrari’s newly upgraded ADUO2 power unit. The engine had been introduced as part of Ferrari’s additional development opportunities under the 2026 regulations, making its potential loss particularly significant. �

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Ferrari subsequently removed the engine from Leclerc’s allocation for the Spanish Grand Prix while further checks were carried out.

The latest information, however, suggests that the Monza power unit was not destroyed. Inspections reportedly found no terminal damage, meaning Ferrari can potentially continue using it, particularly for practice running. �

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That has created an unusual situation: Ferrari may have saved the damaged engine, but the team could still deliberately accept a penalty by introducing another unit in Baku.

Why would Ferrari accept a penalty?

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has already hinted that the team expects Leclerc to take an engine penalty at some point.

During the Spanish Grand Prix weekend, Vasseur identified Baku as a potentially suitable venue for accepting the penalty, pointing to the characteristics of the Azerbaijan circuit. �

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The Baku City Circuit is known for its extremely long main straight and opportunities for overtaking. That means a driver starting at the back is not necessarily condemned to remain there for the entire race.

Ferrari therefore has to consider the bigger championship picture.

Taking the penalty in Baku would hurt Leclerc’s starting position, but introducing a fresh power unit could give him a more competitive and reliable engine for the remaining races. Delaying the penalty could simply move the problem to another circuit where recovering positions may be more difficult.

Leclerc admits penalty could happen

Leclerc himself has acknowledged the possibility.

When asked about the possibility of taking a penalty later in the season, the Ferrari driver indicated that everything depends on whether the Monza unit can continue to be used effectively.

If Ferrari can continue using the engine, the situation becomes easier. If not, Leclerc accepts that a penalty will probably become unavoidable at some point. �

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That makes the Azerbaijan Grand Prix particularly interesting because Ferrari now has a choice rather than simply responding to an unexpected failure.

Baku could provide Leclerc with a recovery opportunity

A grid penalty would be particularly frustrating for Leclerc because he has enjoyed considerable qualifying success in Azerbaijan.

Reports note that he has taken four consecutive Baku pole positions between 2021 and 2024, although he has yet to convert that qualifying form into a victory at the circuit. His best race result there remains second place in 2024. �

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Starting from the back would therefore remove one of his biggest advantages.

However, Baku’s long straight could give Ferrari an opportunity to recover some of the lost positions. Mercedes demonstrated at Monza how dramatically a driver can recover from a power-unit penalty when circumstances and overtaking opportunities work in their favour. Kimi Antonelli started 19th at Monza after taking an engine penalty and went on to win the race. �

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Ferrari will undoubtedly be aware of that example.

What happens next?

For now, Leclerc’s grid penalty should still be described as expected rather than officially confirmed.

Ferrari is continuing to evaluate the situation, and the final decision will depend on how the team manages its power-unit allocation before the Azerbaijan weekend. Current reports indicate that the Monza engine could be used for practice while a fresh ADUO2 unit is prepared for qualifying and the race. �

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If Ferrari follows through with that plan, Leclerc could face a difficult Saturday-to-Sunday turnaround in Baku, potentially starting at the back despite his strong record at the circuit.

For Ferrari, however, the decision is about more than one race. The team must balance the immediate cost of a grid penalty against the benefit of having fresher power-unit equipment available for the remainder of the 2026 campaign.

With the Azerbaijan Grand Prix scheduled for September 26, the final Ferrari decision is now one of the major stories to watch when the F1 paddock arrives in Baku. �

Reuters