Concerns over Charles Leclerc’s power unit during the qualifying session at Monza turned led to a complete power unit change on his SF21 car ahead of the second free practice session and Sprint Qualifying on Saturday. With problems already starting from Q1, as repeatedly reported by Charles on the team radio during qualifying, the Monegasque driver had encountered anomalies on his engine: although he still managed to reach Q3 and finish in P8, just behind his teammate Carlos Sainz, the Maranello technicians decided to reassemble the first power unit used this season before the second free practice session and the qualifying race this afternoon.
Since his second power unit got destroyed in the Lap 1 crash at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix, this means Charles has to use his oldest power unit (PU1). Very unlucky for the Monegasque driver, especially that it happened in Monza where engine power is crucial.
At least no grid penalty, therefore, for Charles Leclerc, contrary to what happened instead to the poleman Valtteri Bottas. We recall, in fact, that the Finn will be forced to start from the back of the grid on Sunday regardless of the outcome of today’s Sprint Qualifying race.
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