At the end of the Abu Dhabi GP, in a live team radio message that was not broadcasted, Charles Leclerc got in touch with Xavi Marcos, his Ferrari race engineer, for a heartfelt dedication in a season that has been anything but straightforward. He thanked all the guys on the track, the ones in the factory, and all the fans who support them despite the challenging situation, saying:
“Thanks to all the guys on the track, the guys in the factory, and all the fans who always support us despite the situation we’re in. I’m sure that next year we’ll come back stronger.”
The Monegasque then asked if he could do some donuts along the main straight, as Max Verstappen had done a few minutes earlier.
“I’ll do some burnouts,” Charles says over the radio, but the response from Xavi Marcos is negative and categorical: “No burnouts on the grid.”
Disheartened, Charles Leclerc then closed the communication, saying, “For heaven’s sake, not even this…”
FIA’s Statement
According to the documents released by the FIA before the start of the GP, which are attached at the end, burnouts on the grid were authorized for all podium finishers, plus Verstappen, if he finished the race in fourth place or lower. Therefore, Charles Leclerc theoretically could have performed them.
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As stated in the official notes: “Drivers finishing the race in the first three positions (and car No. 1 if not among the first three) must remain on the track, go to the back of the grid, and proceed directly to the grid, where they will have the opportunity to celebrate post-championship if they wish. After these celebrations, they must head towards the start lights gantry, where they will find the position 1, 2, 3 boards.”
“All other drivers who wish to carry out post-championship celebrations must do so in a safe place off the track and before the pit entry, then re-enter directly into the pit lane.”
It is not clear whether the Italian pit wall banned Charles Leclerc from the opportunity to celebrate by doing some laps, perhaps concerned about the amount of remaining fuel in his SF-23’s tank, or if, during the final stages of the race, different communications arrived from the race direction to the race engineers, prohibiting this procedure.
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