Leclerc handed three-place grid penalty by Styrian GP stewards!

Charles Leclerc's Styrian Grand Prix will be even more challenging than anticipated following the stewards' decision to demote the Ferrari driver three spots on Sunday's grid.

The stewards' bone of contention with the Monegasque who qualified P11 was the latter's blocking of AlphaTauri's Daniil Kvyat in Q2.

The stewards post-qualifying investigation determined that "the driver of Car 16 Leclerc] must have been aware of Car 26 [Kvyat] approaching, could have reacted differently and therefore impose the above-mentioned penalty."

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But Leclerc was also single out by the stewards for failing to return to the pits after the deployment of a red flag. But in that instance, the stewards took no further action.

Alfa Romeo's Kimi Raikkone was the subject of a similar investigation involving the red flag activation but the Finn was also let off the hook by the stewards.

As for Sergio Perez who was suspected of breaching a yellow flag in Turn 3, the Racing Point driver was absolved of any violation

"The driver of Car 11 [Perez] had already reached the braking zone before turn 3 and was fully committed to the corner at the moment a single yellow flag was shown shortly before the apex of turn 3," read the stewards' statement..

"In addition to that, a green light panel was flashing right after the apex.

"Taking into account these facts, the Stewards determine that the driver of Car 11 had no chance to do anything more to slow down more than he did and therefore take no further action."

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