Scuderia Ferrari Team Principal Mattia Binotto has defended Charles Leclerc following the youngster’s early exit from Formula 1’s Monaco Grand Prix. Charles’ weekend was severely compromised by a Ferrari strategic error in Q1 that left the Monegasque driver in the drop zone, consigning him to 15th on the grid.
The former Sauber driver made early gains by passing Lando Norris and Romain Grosjean but made contact with Nico Hulkenberg through Rascasse. Charles Leclerc sustained a puncture by clipping the inside barriers and the shredded tyre caused substantial damage to the floor of his SF90 as he attempted to return to the pit lane, resulting in his eventual retirement.
“Charles had a strong start, knowing that he’d have to fight his way up the order after his race was compromised by what happened in qualifying” – Mattia Binotto explained, as reported by motorsportweek.com earlier today – “It was a good getaway, but being aggressive always carries a risk. He pulled off some nice passing moves, but on his last one, maybe he tried just a bit too hard. But that’s the right attitude. He proved that he is not the sort to ever give up or surrender.” – he added
Charles Leclerc admitted that he now needs to forget about his disastrous weekend as soon as possible and is already focued on the next race: “I just get on with it as in the end I cannot change it anymore, so it’s just how it is,” he said – “It’s a shame it happens at home, and especially on a track like Monaco, starting 15th obviously we knew that Sunday would be a very difficult day, and even more without the rain, so, we knew it would’ve been a very difficult day, which it has been obviously. Now we need to look forward, I’m pretty sure that we need to keep working and the next weekends will be better.” – the Scuderia Ferrari Monegasque driver concluded.
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