Charles Leclerc’s F1 Canadian GP weekend started on a difficult note after a massive crash in the first practice session (FP1) forced him to miss the entire Friday running. During one of his push laps, Leclerc locked up his brakes entering turn 4 and slid off onto the grass, causing severe damage to both the front and rear suspension, as well as the chassis of his Ferrari. Due to Formula 1 regulations restricting drivers to using only one chassis per day, Leclerc was barred from participating in the second practice session (FP2), leaving him without any track time on Friday.
The Impact of the Crash and Previous Struggles at the Canadian GP
Leclerc’s difficulties in Canada are not new, as he has never fully found success at this venue in recent years. His best finish here was third place in 2019, but since then, the driver has struggled to reach the podium, especially during the current ground effect era. His teammate Lewis Hamilton also faced challenges on Friday, falling several tenths of a second behind the fastest laps. The combined setbacks highlight a tough start for both Ferrari drivers ahead of the weekend.
Leclerc Reflects on What Led to the Crash
Speaking about the incident at the end of the day, Leclerc described the crash as a simple but costly mistake.
“It was a very stupid crash – I had a lock-up, I thought I would make the corner… I knew I would go in the grass, but I thought that was enough to not touch the wall. Unfortunately, when I then ended up in the grass, I understood that there was no room anymore. It’s just a misjudgment, but a misjudgment that cost a lot,”
he explained.
He further detailed the damage caused by the crash, particularly the impact on the car’s chassis.
“The way the wheel has touched the chassis basically cracked the chassis, and we cannot use two chassis on the same day, so that meant basically the whole day not in the car. That hurts because that obviously cost us quite a few laps today, but the very positive thing is that I felt very confident with the car. I think we were very competitive at that time, for whatever it’s worth, because it was only the third [push] lap of the day,”
Leclerc said.
Hopeful for Recovery Ahead of Qualifying
Typically, FP1 and FP2 are crucial sessions that help drivers understand their car’s performance on a new track and lay the groundwork for race preparation and qualifying. Despite missing these opportunities, Leclerc remains optimistic about overcoming the setback. He stated,
“It doesn’t hurt my confidence, and I’m sure that it won’t hurt my weekend at all. I’m sure I’ll be up to speed in Qualifying. How competitive we will be is another matter, and then we’ll have to see. But I’m sure that personally I’ll be 100%.”
Leclerc arrives in Canada following two consecutive podium finishes in Monaco and Barcelona, signaling strong form despite recent challenges. Observers will be keen to see whether he can reverse his fortunes on this track, historically a difficult one for him. His performance during the qualifying session and the race will be pivotal in determining how well Ferrari can contend here this weekend.