Charles Leclerc and Lance Stroll summoned by stewards: failure to respect delta time in Sprint Qualifying. A request from the Ferrari pit wall could explain this investigation .

Controversy at the End of Qualifying
Charles Leclerc and Lance Stroll have been summoned by the stewards following the Sprint Qualifying session at the Chinese GP for failing to respect the delta time.

Charles Leclerc’s difficulty in adhering to the delta time may have been caused by a request from the Ferrari pit wall during Q2 when he was instructed via team radio to let Lewis Hamilton through with the message “Swap Cars,” a call that took the Monegasque driver by surprise.

Charles Leclerc complied with the Ferrari pit wall’s request, but in doing so, he may have failed to respect the delta time, leading to the investigation—though such inquiries rarely result in actual penalties. Neither Charles Leclerc nor Lance Stroll are expected to face consequences. The Monegasque driver qualified in fourth position, while Lance Stroll secured tenth.