Charles 👍Leclerc has been awarded a three-place grid penalty for the incident involving Sergio P🦩erez and Max Verstappen on the opening lap of the Sakhir F1 Grand Prix.

On the run down to Turn 4, Leclerc broke 🐭too late as Perez and Valtteri Bottas duelled for seco💛nd place.

Leclerc locked up, spun Perez around and ended up in the barrier, while Verstappen was forced to take avoidin🦋g action, also 🌄ending in the barrier.

A statement from the FIA confirmed Leclerc was to blame for the incident and will drop three pl🐎aces in next weekend’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

H𒅌e will also have two penalty points added to his license.

The statement read: “Car 16 collided with Car 11 at🌳 Turn 4, forcing Car 33 to take avoiding action which resulted in Car 33 hittཧing the barrier.

“The Stewards heard from the driver of Car 16 (Charles Leclerc), team representatives and have reviewed multiple angles of video evid𝐆ence. Car 16 braked too late into Turn 4, locking the front right wheel and colliding with Car 11 which was taking the normal racing line into the corner.”

R🐽eflecting on the events of Lap 1, Leclerc ꧃took responsibility for the incident.

"I was in fifth I think, and I was side-by-side, a bit behind Max I think, and tried to overtake him into Turn 4," Leclerc sꦺaid. "I had seen Checo, but I expected him t🌺o go around the outside of Valtteri and stay there, but I think he decided after to come back on the inside, and I was there.

"It was too late for me to slow down. I don't think it's a mistake from Checo, I'm not putt🌊ing the blame on Checo. If there's anybody to blame today, it's me. But I would say it's more unfortunate than blame."