Frightening crash halts grand prix before Italian makes history
Updated . First published at
Charles Leclerc has walked away from a serious crash at the Italian GP after he slammed into the barriers in a scary incident.
The shocking incident came in the second lap, but the F1 drama continued after the restart as Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli fought back from 19th on the grid to win.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy driving the Mercedes AMG Petronas to victory. Getty Images
It took the Italian driver fewer than 17 laps to fight his way to the front at Monza on Monday (AEST).
The rest of the race was spent tussling with teammate and title rival George Russell for the lead.
Antonelli passed him for the final time with three laps remaining, going on to become the first Italian to win at Monza in 60 years.
“Oh my god... it feels like a dream,” Antonelli said.
That at least gave the crowd something to cheer about after Ferrari’s Leclerc crashed out.
He slid violently off the track on the second lap, sparking a red flag.
Leclerc was in sound physical condition as he left the car but looked shocked.
He was fourth at the time of the crash.
A powerful image showed Leclerc on the ground being consoled by an official and there were tears in the grandstand.
The race was stopped for more than 30 minutes with Russell first at the time.
“It’s very frustrating, but it’s the way it is now. I cannot change the result,” said Leclerc, who admitted the car felt “a little bit weird.”
Charles Leclerc after crashing out. Getty Images
“I think from lap one to lap two, I had a bit of a difference in power delivery. We’ll look into it, but I don’t want to comment too much before checking the data and confirming it 100 per cent,” he added.
Leclerc said he had a bit of a problem with the vision in his right eye immediately after the crash but that he now felt fine, apart from “a bit of pain here and there.”
He did add, however, that he would have further checks over the next 24 hours to make sure that he is fit to compete in next weekend’s Spanish GP.
“It should be the case but better be safe than sorry,” Leclerc said.
Questions were also raised about the relationship between Leclerc and Hamilton after a tense tussle between the two Ferrari drivers at the second corner that saw Hamilton go into the gravel and tumble from fourth to 10th.
“I don’t really know who is forcing that narrative that we are one against the other,” Leclerc said.
“Here it’s true though that we went too far. I think Lewis in turn one, then turn two I tried to do the tightest corner possible, but that was just not enough and doing it here is not good.
Charles Leclerc crashed out of the Monza GP Getty Images
“It is never what you want between two cars of the same team.”
Max Verstappen rounded out the podium and Australia’s Oscar Piastri finished fifth, one behind McLaren teammate Lando Norris.
In the other Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton finished sixth.
Hamilton arrived at Monza on the back of eight consecutive top-five finishes and having finally got his first win for Ferrari in June.
That had thrust him right into the title race.
The seven-time champion started the race 59 points behind Antonelli, with upgrades to his Ferrari and 15 grid places ahead of the young Italian.
He ended the weekend 76 points behind Antonelli.
Kimi Antonelli of Italy and Mercedes. Getty Images
“A bit devastating, tough one to swallow, lost a lot of points and ultimately couldn’t keep a Mercedes engine behind,” Hamilton said.
It was Antonelli’s seventh win of the season – and his fledgling F1 career – and extended his lead in the overall standings to 66 points ahead of Russell.
- Reported with Associated Press
