Charles Leclerc blames collision with Oscar Piastri for Dutch GP DNF

After qualifying in P9 Charles Leclerc’s Dutch GP ended in a DNF.

Charles Leclerc blames collision with Oscar Piastri for Dutch GP DNF

Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri (Image via Imago)

During the race, Charles Leclerc‘s car sustained damage as he went off-track, necessitating a front wing replacement through an extra pit stop. Despite these efforts, ongoing challenges from the incurred damage became evident, leading Ferrari to retire his car. The team later revealed that significant floor damage was the decisive factor behind this difficult call.

According to Charles Leclerc, the origin of the damage to his car was traced back to contact with Oscar Piastri during the race. He pointed out that this contact hurt a specific part of the car, disrupting its aerodynamics. This, in turn, translated into a persistent struggle for Leclerc as the race progressed.

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“I think it was as a result of contact with Oscar, and I think it touched a part that affected as aerodynamically, and we were struggling from there,” Charles Leclerc said, as reported by PlanetF1.

As the race kicked off at Zandvoort, rain started falling during the opening lap. This weather shift prompted numerous drivers, including the Monegasque competitor, to pit stop for intermediate tires. Regrettably, upon reaching the pits, Leclerc encountered an unprepared team lacking the necessary new tires. This incident inflicted a substantial setback on Leclerc’s race progress during the initial phases.

Also read: Charles Leclerc bashes the SF-23 for proving too ‘difficult to drive’ after Q3 crash at Zandvoort

Zandvoort presents unforeseen challenges for Charles Leclerc

Charles Leclerc (Image credit: Racingnews365)

Zandvoort was a challenging ordeal for the Monegasque driver as his race turned unexpectedly. The troubles commenced with a chaotic pit stop early on, where Leclerc swiftly entered the pits to transition to intermediate tires. Regrettably, the team was unprepared for this swift decision, causing Leclerc to endure an agonizing wait for the tire change. Consequently, this unforeseen delay significantly hindered his progress and dropped him further down the grid.

Following the conclusion of the two practice sessions at the 2023 F1 Dutch GP, Charles Leclerc emphasized the imperative for Ferrari to take a significant leap forward in performance for the upcoming Saturday and Sunday sessions. Expressing his sentiments, the Monegasque driver admitted to grappling with a less-than-ideal experience during the initial practice sessions. This sentiment was reflected on the timing sheets, where he secured the 16th and 11th positions in the respective sessions.

A series of underwhelming performances this season has resulted in Ferrari attaining the fourth position in the Constructors’ Championship, amassing 191 points. The highlight of this year has been Charles Leclerc’s impressive second-place finish in the Austrian Grand Prix.

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