Charles Leclerc Crashes Out of Italian Grand Prix at Monza

THE CRASH

Charles Leclerc's Italian Grand Prix ended before it really started. Battling McLaren's Oscar Piastri for position on the exit of the Parabolica, Leclerc lost the rear of his Ferrari SF-26, tried to catch the slide, then speared the other way across the gravel and into the barrier at high speed. The crash ended his race at the end of lap two and brought out the red flag while marshals repaired the damaged barrier.

THE AFTERMATH

Leclerc climbed out of the wreck unaided and sat on the grass while FIA doctors carried out trackside checks before he was walked to the medical car. He was taken to the medical centre for a fuller evaluation, and Ferrari said he was fine following the accident.

AN OLD PATTERN AT AN UNFORGIVING CORNER

It is not the first time Leclerc's home race has ended at that exact corner. He crashed out of the Italian Grand Prix at the Parabolica in 2020 too, in a smash he later admitted was his own mistake. Six years on, the outcome was the same: race over on home soil, car destroyed, before the podium picture had even started to take shape.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The crash compounded a rough day for Ferrari at their home race. Minutes earlier, teammate Lewis Hamilton had complained he was pushed wide by Leclerc in a Turn 1 battle that cost him positions, and Hamilton went on to finish only sixth as Ferrari managed no podium at Monza.