Leclerc reflects on ‘very stupid’ crash in Canada practice as Hamilton expects battle to reach Q3

Charles Leclerc admitted to “feeling sorry for the whole team” after the Ferrari driver’s “very stupid” crash during Friday’s first practice session for the Canadian Grand Prix, which left him with only a handful of laps to his name.

Leclerc made a quick start to FP1 at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, only to lock up under braking for Turn 3, slide over the grass and hit the barriers around a quarter of the way through the session – putting him out on the spot.

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With Ferrari forced to change the survival cell on Leclerc’s SF-25 as a result of the damage sustained, the Monegasque was not able to take part in the subsequent FP2 session, meaning he ended the day on just nine laps.

Asked for his reflections on the incident, Leclerc said: “First of all, I feel sorry for the whole team, because obviously that’s never something you want.

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“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. 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.”

While he will only have an hour of practice to prepare for Saturday’s Qualifying session in FP3, Leclerc is hopeful of bouncing back and putting up a fight in the grid decider.

“It doesn’t hurt my confidence, and I’m sure that it won’t hurt my weekend at all,” he commented. “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 on his ‘very stupid crash’ which ‘cracked the chassis’

Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, placed fifth in FP1 and eighth in FP2, with the seven-time World Champion admitting his day started better than it finished.

“Not great, not particularly great,” he summed up. “I love driving here and the crowd’s been amazing today, but the car is a lot different to what I’ve experienced here in the past.

“I think P1 was alright, then we made some changes. Honestly, I thought the car was quicker, and we just went slower, or they [our rivals] went quicker.”

Hamilton added that there will be “some changes to make” before FP3, having reported rear locking through FP2, while previewing the challenge ahead for Qualifying.

“I don’t know [what’s possible],” he said. “I think it will be a challenge to get into Q3 at this rate, but not impossible. Then I think trying to fight to get into the top five is going to be tough.”