F1 Charles Leclerc Crash: Explains What Went Wrong At Brazilian Grand Prix
The Brazilian Grand Prix took an unexpected turn even before the race officially began, as Ferrari's Charles Leclerc encountered a disastrous setback. The Monegasque prodigy was forced to abandon the race prematurely when he lost control of his car and crashed into the barriers during the formation lap at the Interlagos circuit.
Key Takeaways:
- Charles Leclerc's Technical Mishap: Leclerc crashed out on the formation lap of the Brazilian Grand Prix due to a steering failure caused by a non-hydraulic issue, leading to his early retirement from the race.
- Clarification on Teammate's Issue: He distinguished his problem from teammate Carlos Sainz's previous hydraulics issue in Mexico City, suggesting a different technical anomaly was at play.
- Impact on Ferrari's Race Strategy: With Leclerc out, Ferrari relied on Sainz for points as the race faced multiple disruptions, including a red flag due to debris from a separate multi-car collision.
Leclerc provided a firsthand account of the incident, describing the technical difficulties that led to the crash.
“When I lost the steering wheel, I went straight because I had no hydraulics anymore. I don’t think it’s a hydraulics problem. I know what it is but I cannot go into too much detail,” he explained.
The implication was clear: there were underlying issues with the car that went beyond the hydraulic system.
He further detailed the mechanical failures that contributed to the incident, saying:
“Then there was an engine thing that made me lock the rear wheels then obviously I spun and hit the wall. I couldn’t do anything.”
The occurrence raised questions about whether Leclerc's issue was similar to the hydraulics problem that his teammate Carlos Sainz faced in Mexico City. Leclerc was quick to clarify the distinction between the two events.
“I haven’t gone into details with the guys but what they have seen is completely different and it’s not what happened to Carlos,” Leclerc stated, differentiating his predicament from that of his teammate's earlier misfortune.
Despite the chaos, the quick reactions of Leclerc ensured that his stricken SF-23 was removed from the track without causing a significant delay to the start of the Grand Prix. However, the race was far from stable as multiple retirements unfolded shortly after it began. A crash involving Alex Albon, Kevin Magnussen, and Nico Hulkenberg led to subsequent damage for Oscar Piastri and Daniel Ricciardo.
With Leclerc's premature exit, the onus has fallen on Carlos Sainz to carry the banner for the Maranello-based team.