In a recent turn of events at the Chinese Grand Prix, a collision between racing stars Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton has sparked a debate about who should bear the blame. Leclerc, however, believes that neither himself nor Hamilton are at fault. Furthermore, he warns that his team Ferrari should brace themselves for more potential clashes between their drivers as the season unfolds.
The incident occurred during the early stages of the race when Hamilton, who was running P4, and Leclerc, at P5, navigated through Turn 2 and 3. Leclerc’s vehicle clipped Hamilton’s sister Ferrari, resulting in the loss of a front wing endplate. This mishap was estimated to have cost the team “20 to 30 points” of downforce.
Despite the incident, Leclerc managed to maintain a pace advantage over Hamilton for a significant part of the race. However, he acknowledges that the damage incurred had an impact on his performance and anticipates further challenges for the Ferrari drivers.
In an interview with Sky F1, Leclerc emphasized that Hamilton was in no way responsible for the incident. He explained that while he was positioning his car for Turn 3, Hamilton, unaware of Leclerc’s position, came back to take the apex. Leclerc describes the occurrence as a racing incident and something that is bound to happen again, saying, “This is not the first and last time it will happen.”
The regrettable event between the two red cars did not stem from any ill intentions, according to Leclerc. However, it did significantly affect the rest of his race. Despite the substantial damage to his vehicle, Leclerc chose not to change the damaged front wing, fearing the loss of eight seconds at the pit stop. This decision was also influenced by Ferrari’s weak performance in Turn 12, which made the team susceptible to the cars behind and hindered overtaking.
The Chinese Grand Prix saw Leclerc persevere despite the damage to his front wing, while Hamilton’s pace dwindled. Ferrari team principal, Fred Vasseur, found the situation difficult to decipher. Speaking to Sky F1, he expressed his confusion over the fluctuating pace, especially given Hamilton’s excellent performance management the previous day.
Despite the challenges, Vasseur insists on focusing on the positives, specifically highlighting Leclerc’s race and commendable pace. When asked about Hamilton’s disappearing Sprint race-winning pace, he refrained from blaming it on tyre-related issues. Instead, he emphasized that everyone uses the same tyres and the situation is always on edge.
The race concluded with Leclerc at P5, after being overtaken by Red Bull’s Verstappen, and Hamilton at P6. However, both Ferrari drivers were later disqualified. Leclerc’s Ferrari SF-25 was found to be underweight during the standard FIA post-race checks, while the underfloor plank on Hamilton’s Ferrari exceeded the maximum permitted wear. This unfortunate incident serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictability of the racing world and the importance of preparation and adaptability.