Charles Leclerc suffered a heavy crash at the Parabolica during the opening laps of the 2026 Italian Grand Prix, forcing Race Control to red-flag the race at Monza. The Ferrari driver hit the barriers at high speed shortly after defending fourth position from Oscar Piastri.
The Italian Grand Prix could hardly have started — or ended — in worse fashion for Charles Leclerc and Ferrari. Having started from third position following the changes to the Italian GP starting order after qualifying, the Monegasque’s race lasted only two laps.
Charles Leclerc crashes heavily at the Parabolica
Charles Leclerc had just defended his position from Oscar Piastri under braking before turning his SF-26 into the Parabolica. After holding onto fourth place, however, the Ferrari driver lost control when his left-rear tyre ran onto the drainage grating positioned between the racing surface and the outside kerb.
The Ferrari developed a slight pendulum effect, with the nose initially pointing towards the inside of the corner before snapping back towards the outside. From that point, Charles Leclerc was unable to regain control.
The impact with the barriers was lateral and occurred at high speed, leaving the number 16 SF-26 heavily damaged. Charles Leclerc was able to climb out of the Ferrari without assistance, although he subsequently sat down just beyond the run-off area as medical personnel arrived to assist him.
Given the severity of the impact, Charles Leclerc was expected to undergo the usual precautionary checks at the Medical Centre.
Safety Car replaced by red flag after Leclerc’s Monza accident
Race Control initially deployed the Safety Car following Charles Leclerc’s accident before escalating the intervention to a red flag, stopping the Italian Grand Prix at the beginning of lap three.
Marshals began recovering the heavily damaged SF-26 while repairs and checks were carried out on the barriers before the race could resume. The accident unfolded moments after an already chaotic start for Ferrari, which had seen Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton clash at the first chicane.
Major damage to Ferrari SF-26 also carries budget cap implications
Beyond the most important consideration — Charles Leclerc’s condition, with the Ferrari driver standing and fully conscious after the accident — the crash could also represent a significant financial blow for Ferrari under Formula 1’s budget cap.
The number 16 car emerged from the impact with extensive damage, adding another difficult element to a disastrous opening to Ferrari’s home race at the Monza circuit.
Here is the moment of the accident:
Watch Charles Leclerc’s crash at the Parabolica
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