Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc has taken full responsibility for his self-described “stupid crash” that prematurely ended his FP1 session and sidelined him from FP2 at the Canadian Grand Prix, and which cost the Scuderia crucial mileage and data.
The Monegasque was showing early pace at the top of the timesheets during the opening session before a lock-up into Turn 3 sent him skating off-line and into the wall at Turn 4.
The crash prompted red flags and left his SF-25 with chassis damage significant enough to end his day on the spot.
A Costly Misjudgement
Leclerc was visibly disappointed in his post-session comments, owning up to the error that derailed Ferrari’s Friday programme.
“First of all, I feel sorry for the whole team, because that’s never something you want,” he said.
“It was a very stupid crash. I had a lock-up, I thought I would make the corner anyway. I knew I would go on the grass but I thought that was enough to not touch the wall.
“Unfortunately, when I touched the wall, I ended up in the grass and I understood there was no room anymore.
“It’s just a misjudgement, but a misjudgement that cost a lot because then the way the wheel has touched the chassis, and basically cracked the chassis, and we cannot use two chassis on the same day so that meant that basically the whole day not in the car.”
Confidence Intact
While Ferrari’s mechanics were tasked with building up a new chassis, Leclerc was left to watch the action from his team’s garage as the rest of the grid gathered valuable data ahead of a weekend that could see mixed weather conditions play a role.
“That hurts because obviously that cost us quite a few laps around today, but the very positive thing is that I felt very confident with the car, and we were quite competitive for whatever it’s worth, because it was only the third [push] lap of the day.”
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Vasseur's fury: Ferrari boss slams 'stupid' Italian media rumorsDespite the setback, Leclerc was quick to dismiss any concerns about lingering effects on his mindset or preparation for the remainder of the weekend.
“It doesn’t hurt my confidence, and I’m sure that it won’t hurt my weekend at all,” he added. “I’m sure I’ll be up to speed in qualifying. How competitive we will be is another matter, and then we’ll have to see. But I’m sure that personally I’ll be 100%.”
Hamilton Frustrated by Pace: “Not Particularly Great”
Teammate Lewis Hamilton avoided major mistakes during his Friday outings – aside from a brief spin following the restart of FP1 – but ended the day far from satisfied with Ferrari’s performance.
He finished four-tenths off the pace in the first session and over five in FP2, expressing frustration at the lack of progress.
©Ferrari
“Not great, not particularly great,” Hamilton admitted. “I love driving here and the crowd’s been amazing today, but the car is a lot different to what I’ve experienced here in the past.
“I think P1 was alright, then we made some changes. Honestly, I thought the car was quicker, and we just went slower, or they [our rivals] went quicker.”
The seven-time world champion expressed uncertainty regarding his prospects for Saturday.
“I don’t know [what’s possible],” he said. “I think it will be a challenge to get into Q3 at this rate, but not impossible. Then I think trying to fight to get into the top five is going to be tough.”
A Frustrating Day for Ferrari All Round
The crash and lack of pace capped a difficult day for the Scuderia, one made even more tense by off-track speculation. Team principal Fred Vasseur hit back at media reports questioning his long-term position within the team, calling the rumors “stupid” and harmful to the unity of the squad.
With only one car running in FP2 and both drivers expressing frustration, Ferrari will need a swift turnaround on Saturday if they hope to contend in Montreal – especially as the weather forecast remains unpredictable.
Leclerc, for his part, seems determined to bounce back. But with no data from FP2 and a damaged chassis to rebuild confidence from, Ferrari’s path to recovery in Canada will require flawless execution from here.
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