Charles Leclerc explains the real reason for his Brazilian GP formation lap crash

Charles Leclerc's Brazilian GP race ended on the formation lap lasting just 6 corners.

Charles Leclerc explains the real reason for his Brazilian GP formation lap crash

Charles Leclerc (via IMAGO)

Nightmare stuck once again at the Brazilian GP for Ferrari and Charles Leclerc as they found themselves facing unexpected challenges and a frustrating outcome. With a strong second-place qualification behind Max Verstappen, hopes were high for a successful race day. However, a rare electronic issue disrupted his plans and forced him to retire before the race even started. 

The drama unfolded during the formation lap when Leclerc’s Ferrari encountered an electronic command issue. Leclerc described the race incident, saying he initially lost power steering, followed by the engine cutting off for safety reasons. This caused the rear wheels to lock up and led to a spin, ending him in the barriers.

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This problem quickly snowballed, leading to a power unit and hydraulic failure that left Leclerc struggling to maintain control of his car. Leclerc explained, speaking to Autosport.com;

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 I went to the corner, I lost the power steering first, and then the engine cut off for safety reasons.We know what that is, but I cannot go too much into details.

Leclerc attempted to soldier on, but the persistent electronic problem plagued him. After the initial crash, he could have continued, but the issue resurfaced, causing him to lose hydraulic pressure and the engine to cut off once again. This left him with no choice but to retire from the race;

 I started again, I got the hydraulics for 15 seconds. But then exactly the same thing happened. I lost the hydraulics, and then the engine cuts off.

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Charles Leclerc prefers having misfortune right now and not when he is in championship contention

Frustration seeped into Leclerc’s tone as he contemplated the day’s events. He expressed annoyance, emphasizing that he had built confidence with the car in the latter part of the year, only to start second, invest an entire weekend, and complete just six corners before his race ended.

Charles Leclerc
Charles Leclerc (Credits: Racing News 365)

Despite the disappointment, Leclerc showed his resilience and determination by immediately focusing on the upcoming races. He hopes to contribute his best for the team to secure the runner-up spot behind Red Bull. 

So, I'm very frustrated for now but now I need to move on and obviously focus on the last two races, that's the best thing I can do as a driver.

Throughout the year, Leclerc has faced a string of misfortunes, enduring numerous races plagued by mechanical reliability issues. However, Leclerc expresses positivity saying;

 I'd rather have a lot of problems in a season where I'm fighting for these positions than in a season where I'm fighting for the championship. Having said that, I would rather not have these types of issues at all.

Despite Leclerc’s retirement, Ferrari managed to outscore Mercedes, aided by Carlos Sainz’s 6th place finish and George Russell’s retirement. The two teams are locked in a duel for the second spot in the standings, and only 20 points separate them. Ferrari and Leclerc have moved on from the disappointment and are fully focused on Vegas. 

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