Miami Saturday starts in the worst possible way for Ferrari. Charles Leclerc crashed into the wall during the lap to bring his SF-25 to the grid for the Sprint Race of the Grand Prix that will take place tomorrow in Florida.
The Monegasque driver was sent out on Intermediate tyres, despite the track being literally flooded due to the heavy rain currently pouring down on Miami.
Leclerc was caught out as he approached Turn 11. The SF-25 number 16 went off track, hitting the right side of the barriers. In the impact, Leclerc damaged the suspension of his car and was forced to retire even before the Sprint Race had begun.
The choice made by Ferrari remains incomprehensible, at least for now. They sent both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton out on Intermediate tyres despite the track being in conditions that clearly required Full Wet tyres.
Lewis Hamilton himself, while driving his Ferrari to the grid, opened his radio and said, “How is it possible you sent us out on Intermediates?”
Charles Leclerc didn’t make any excuses in front of the microphones: “A lot can be said and many factors can be considered, but I was behind the wheel. I lost control on the straight, but it’s not like I was pushing. There was aquaplaning, and the car no longer responded to the inputs I was giving to the steering wheel.”
Thus, Ferrari will only have Lewis Hamilton on track for the Sprint, as the mechanics work to repair Charles Leclerc’s SF-25 in time for qualifying.
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