Leclerc and Russell Avoid Grid Penalties at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix

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During the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, two top Formula 1 drivers, Charles Leclerc and George Russell, narrowly avoided grid penalties after receiving reprimands for similar infractions.

Charles Leclerc was reprimanded during the third practice session after stewards reviewed footage and telemetry, which showed he slightly accelerated before the end of a yellow flag zone. Leclerc reacted prematurely, having spotted a green flag just a few meters ahead. However, since he was already braking in the flagged zone, this mitigated the severity of the infraction, sparing him a harsher penalty.

George Russell found himself in a similar situation during qualifying when Carlos Sainz left the track ahead of him. Russell couldn't see the yellow flag in time to adjust his braking. The stewards acknowledged the limited visibility of the flag and deemed that Russell’s actions didn't warrant a grid penalty, only a reprimand.

While both drivers escaped grid penalties, these incidents highlight the critical role of yellow flags in F1 safety and the split-second decisions drivers must make. The reprimands serve as a reminder that even the best drivers are not immune to scrutiny, reinforcing F1's strict safety protocols.