New data has highlighted the severity of Charles Leclerc’s huge crash at the Italian Grand Prix, with the Ferrari driver hitting the barriers at a reported 234 km/h after losing control of the SF-26 through the Curva Alboreto at Monza. The accident completed a disastrous opening two laps for Ferrari, whose home race had already been compromised by an intense first-corner battle between Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.
Ferrari had started the Italian Grand Prix with genuine hopes of a strong result in front of the Tifosi. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton lined up third and fourth, positions that should have allowed the Scuderia to manage the early stages and target a valuable result, including from a championship perspective. Instead, despite an SF-26 that was far from comfortable around the Monza circuit, Ferrari saw much of that opportunity disappear almost immediately.
Ferrari’s Monza problems begin with Hamilton and Leclerc
The trouble started under braking for the opening Variante del Rettifilo. Lewis Hamilton committed to the brakes in an attempt to attack Charles Leclerc on the inside, while the Monegasque closed the door and forced his team-mate towards the gravel rather than surrendering the position. The incident immediately compromised the seven-time Formula 1 world champion’s race and sent Lewis Hamilton tumbling down the order.
Lewis Hamilton later made his frustration clear, saying over the radio: “Charles pushed me off the track.” The episode would subsequently intensify the debate around Ferrari’s lack of defined rules of engagement between its two drivers.
Charles Leclerc crash data reveals 234 km/h impact
Charles Leclerc then attempted to push to the limit in search of a strong result, but ultimately exceeded what the car could provide. His race ended in a violent accident on the exit of the Curva Alboreto, historically known as the Parabolica, when he lost the Ferrari at high speed. The crash brought out the red flag and left the Tifosi watching from the grandstands with a sense of resignation.
The accident came while Oscar Piastri was attempting to attack on the inside. Charles Leclerc tried to resist around the outside and stayed on the throttle, accelerating with two wheels over the green-painted area beyond the track surface, where grip was limited. The Ferrari then snapped away and headed into the barriers, with the impact occurring at a reported speed of 234 km/h.
Telemetry data also highlighted the different approach Charles Leclerc took through the Alboreto corner. His trajectory differed significantly from the normal line, before the rear of the SF-26 broke away and the car went directly towards the barrier. The accident ended Ferrari’s hopes with Charles Leclerc after only two laps of its home Grand Prix.
Ferrari criticised over handling of its two drivers
The events broadcast live on television also provided another indication of the confusion surrounding Ferrari’s management of its two drivers. Lewis Hamilton’s complaint that Charles Leclerc had pushed him off track reflected the frustration of a driver who sees himself as having a leadership role within the team, while his team-mate is equally unwilling to simply surrender position.
Following the tensions that had already emerged during the Dutch Grand Prix weekend, Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur had maintained that the relationship between the drivers was calm and that there were no problems. Monza, however, presented a very different picture.
The Italian Grand Prix also raised questions about Ferrari’s preparation for unusual but entirely foreseeable situations, particularly the start of such an important home race. The team appeared to lack sufficiently clear instructions for how Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton should manage a direct fight, even when the competitive picture between the two cars was already well defined.
After Monza, those competitive roles could become even clearer. Ferrari will now have to show whether it is prepared to respond to what happened and establish firmer guidelines for its drivers, or whether it intends to continue with the same approach as the championship moves on from a deeply disappointing home Grand Prix.
Leave a Reply