The Monaco Grand Prix took a dramatic turn on lap 65 when a Safety Car restart triggered one of the race’s biggest incidents, ending Charles Leclerc’s hopes in front of his home crowd.
As the Safety Car peeled into the pits at the end of lap 65, the field prepared for a tense 13-lap sprint to the chequered flag. Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli retained control of the race at the front, but the spotlight quickly shifted to Charles Leclerc after disaster struck just moments after racing resumed.
Charles Leclerc’s race ends after restart incident
With tyre temperatures still far from optimal following the neutralisation period, drivers faced the difficult challenge of immediately finding grip around the narrow streets of Monte Carlo. For Charles Leclerc, that challenge proved costly.
The Ferrari driver aggressively attacked the final corner in an attempt to maximise his speed onto the start-finish straight. However, the lack of grip combined with the demanding conditions caught him out, sending his Ferrari into the barriers.
The impact brought an abrupt end to Leclerc’s race and immediately triggered another Safety Car period, leaving Monaco’s home favourite devastated after what had already been a difficult afternoon.
For Ferrari, the timing could hardly have been worse. With only 13 laps remaining, every position was becoming increasingly valuable, and the restart represented one of the last opportunities to put pressure on the cars ahead.
Frustration boils over on Ferrari radio
Shortly after the accident, Charles Leclerc expressed his frustration over team radio, suggesting that a technical issue may have contributed to the crash.
“I’m not even going to take the blame! These brakes!” the Monegasque driver said.
The message immediately sparked questions about whether Leclerc had been struggling with braking performance prior to the incident. At the time of the crash, it remained unclear whether the problem was related to brake temperatures following the Safety Car period, a mechanical issue, or simply the challenging conditions created by cold tyres.
Ferrari engineers will undoubtedly analyse the data in detail after the race to determine exactly what happened in the moments leading up to the accident.
Monaco once again punishes the smallest mistake
The incident once again showed how unforgiving Monaco can be, especially after a Safety Car restart. Around the Principality, drivers have little margin for error even under normal racing conditions. Add cold tyres, reduced brake temperatures and the pressure of a late-race sprint, and the risk level increases dramatically.
While Kimi Antonelli continued to lead the race following the restart, Charles Leclerc’s afternoon ended in disappointment, transforming what could have been a strong result into another painful chapter in his complicated relationship with his home Grand Prix.
With another Safety Car deployed and only a handful of laps remaining, the Monaco Grand Prix remained wide open, but Ferrari’s hopes had suffered a major blow with the retirement of its hometown star.
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