Chaos in the opening laps
The incident occurred just after the restart following the Safety Car deployment triggered by Gabriel Bortoleto’s opening-lap crash. Immediately after the green flag, Charles Leclerc, Oscar Piastri, and Kimi Antonelli found themselves side by side in turn 1 while battling for second place. Charles Leclerc opted for the outside line, while Piastri attempted an ambitious move on the inside against Antonelli.
Charles Leclerc furious after the collision
Piastri’s maneuver proved overly optimistic. Locking up under braking, the Australian made contact with Antonelli’s Mercedes, which led to a chain reaction collision involving Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari SF-25. The impact destroyed the car’s right front suspension and detached the wheel entirely. Left with no options, the Monegasque parked his car just off the track and exited visibly frustrated. Removing his helmet, he watched the remaining cars pass by under the Safety Car while venting his anger with a few kicks to his damaged car—an instinctive reaction understandable for a driver caught up in an incident beyond his control.
Piastri penalized
Race control deemed Oscar Piastri responsible for the incident. The McLaren driver was handed a ten-second in-race penalty and received two points on his super license. Kimi Antonelli, also damaged in the contact, was able to continue but with a compromised pace.
For Ferrari, it was yet another missed opportunity in an inconsistent season. Leclerc, who had started the race from third, looked set to challenge for a podium before the chaos at turn 1 ended his race. Interlagos once again proved its unpredictable nature, with minimal gaps and intense tension in the opening laps.
The Brazil GP leaves Ferrari with disappointment and frustration, hoping to recover both luck and valuable points at the next race in Las Vegas.
