Scuderia Ferrari suspects that an electronic malfunction was the cause of Charles Leclerc’s crash on the formation lap of theSao Paulo Grand Prix, which took place last weekend at the 4.309-kilometre Autódromo José Carlos Pace, better known as Autódromo de Interlagos or simply Interlago. The issue seemed to resurface almost immediately as he attempted to return to the pits for repairs.
The Monegasque was expected to start the race in second place alongside Max Verstappen’s Red Bull. However, he lost control of his SF-23 single-seater, spun across the run-off area, and collided with the barriers at the long Ferradura right-hander during the parade lap.
He immediately reported a car problem over the team radio, exclaiming, “No! I lost the hydraulics, I lost the hydraulics. Why am I so unlucky?”
Upon returning to the Interlagos pits, Charles Leclerc disclosed that Ferrari had identified a more profound issue, explaining that “there was an engine-related problem that caused the rear wheels to lock, leading to the crash, and I couldn’t do anything about it.” He only realized something was wrong “when I lost control of the steering wheel and veered straight.”
Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur did not delve into specific technical details but hinted that it appeared to be a complete shutdown of the car’s systems, rendering Charles Leclerc unable to maintain control:
“It’s a system issue where the system shut off the hydraulics and engine. The result of the [issue] from the system we don’t know yet because the car is not back, but it was more an electronic problem.” – the French manager pointed out at the end of the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Charles Leclerc was able to move away from the tire barrier, sporting front wing damage, and seemed to be on his way to return to the pits for necessary repairs. However, he subsequently came to a stop behind the safety barriers and it was clear that he would no longer be able to start the race. The Ferrari boss confirmed that his driver had “started to switch off and switch on” to try to revive the car, but “the issue is he made 30 metres and then found himself in the same situation so it was better to stop. [There was] no way to recover.” – Fred Vasseur continued.
When inquired about Charles Leclerc’s state of mind, Fred Vasseur playfully remarked, “He’s feeling fine, and we’re all set for a party tonight!” However, he then emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting that this loss was especially disheartening. Ferrari had entered the race with higher hopes for their race pace, given their strategic sacrifice in the sprint event to secure a more favorable tire position for the main race: “It’s very frustrating for Charles and for the team. But the issue is that strategically over the weekend we put all the effort into the long run to save tyres – we didn’t use new tyres for the short one, we didn’t use new tyres for the race of the short one, we put everything on the long one and we didn’t take the start.” – the Frenchman added.
Show your support for Scuderia Ferrari with official merchandise collection! Click here to enter the F1 online Store and shop securely! And also get your F1 tickets for every race with VIP hospitality and unparalleled insider access. Click here for the best offers to support Charles and Carlos from the track!
While Carlos Sainz managed to secure sixth place with the remaining Ferrari, it was an immense opportunity that slipped away during a weekend when Mercedes, their competitor for second place in the constructors’ championship, faced significant pace challenges. Despite the Grand Prix, Ferrari only managed to gain four points on Mercedes, leaving them 20 points adrift as they approach the final two rounds.
“We were in a good position today and it’s a missed opportunity because we were catching up Mercedes a little bit over the weekend but with Charles on the front row with three sets of new tyres it could have been much better. We still have two attempts in Vegas and Abu Dhabi. Vegas could be a chaotic one, and if we have the same pace as this weekend and Mercedes has the same pace as this weekend we have an opportunity.” – the Ferrari boss concluded.
Leave a Reply