Charles Leclerc reflects on Miami sprint crash: ‘I felt like a passenger’
Charles Leclerc Frustrated After Crashing Out Ahead of Miami Sprint Race
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Ferrari's Charles Leclerc lamented a disappointing start to his weekend after crashing out ahead of Saturday's Sprint race during a treacherous outing at the Miami Grand Prix. The Monegasque driver admitted he "felt a bit like a passenger" as he lost control of his SF-25 on the wet surface of the Miami International Autodrome.
The Crash: Aquaplaning at Turn 10
The incident unfolded as Formula 1 drivers navigated their sighting laps under heavy rain. Leclerc experienced aquaplaning through the left-hand kink at Turn 10, sending his car hard into the wall and prematurely ending his race. The 27-year-old was visibly frustrated but accepted responsibility for the error.
"It's frustrating, but at the end of the day, I can only blame myself for it," Leclerc told Sky Sports. "Going out with [intermediate tires] in those conditions was probably not the best choice, but on the other hand, these things shouldn't happen."
He described the challenge of handling the car in such perilous conditions: "I felt a bit like a passenger because it's in a straight line and it's not like you are pushing in a straight line. I was just cruising until I completely lost control of the car due to the aquaplaning, and I had no way out of it."
Looking ahead to the rest of the weekend, Leclerc said: "Very disappointed is the way it is. Now I need to move on because there is qualifying in a few hours, which I hope I'll be able to take part in. If I do, then I hope we can recover from a difficult beginning of the day."
Hamilton Questions Ferrari’s Tire Strategy
Leclerc’s woes were compounded by the fact that his Ferrari teammate, Lewis Hamilton, voiced similar concerns about the team's decision to send both cars out on intermediate tires in the torrential rain. Following Leclerc's crash, the seven-time world champion was heard on team radio saying: "I don't know how you put us out on inters here."
Hamilton, however, managed to avoid a catastrophic double blow for the Scuderia. Starting from seventh on the grid, the 40-year-old Briton climbed to third by the checkered flag, thanks in part to an early switch to slick tires on the drying circuit. His impressive drive salvaged valuable points for Ferrari and kept him in the hunt in the tightly contested drivers' championship standings.
Hamilton’s Near Miss and Podium Finish
Speaking during the post-Sprint press conference, Hamilton revealed just how close he came to joining Leclerc in an early exit: "When we all went out for the [sighting] lap, I don't know how it was, but obviously Charles had that moment. I had exactly the same moment because I was right behind him and somehow [the car] just stopped going towards the wall right at the last moment. So that was nearly both of us out. To come from that to then get these points, I'm really grateful."
Hamilton's podium finish saw him edge closer to sixth place in the drivers’ standings, just one point behind Andrea Kimi Antonelli, the highly touted Mercedes successor. Meanwhile, Leclerc remains fifth in the championship, maintaining a ten-point lead over his teammate.
Reflection and Looking Ahead
As Ferrari reflects on its decision-making in treacherous conditions, the focus now shifts to ensuring their drivers are equipped to bounce back in Sunday’s Grand Prix. While Leclerc's misstep will undoubtedly sting in the short term, Hamilton's resilience proved once again why he remains one of the sport's most decorated competitors.
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