“I tried to push as much as possible and lost the rear,” he analyzed on “Sky”. Because unlike the previous races, Leclerc had to take the blame on the Circuit Paul Ricard, even if there was speculation about a defect in the accelerator pedal.
French GP
Mercedes disappointed with update: “It really backfired”
ONE DAY AGO
“It was just a mistake,” admitted Leclerc. “I said I’m performing at the highest level of my career. But if I make mistakes like this, it’s useless to drive at the highest level. I’m losing too many points,” said a dejected Leclerc.
World Cup dream is a long way off
The Monegasse is now 63 points behind the Dutchman.
And that despite the fact that Ferrari – as in most of the past few weeks – also had “the fastest car” in France, as the World Cup runner-up explained.
“If we lose the World Cup by 32 points, then I know where that comes from,” Leclerc complained after the race and self-critically made it clear: “It’s unacceptable, I have to get these things under control.”
Charles Leclerc | What: https://twitter.com/F1
Fotocredit: Eurosport
Leclerc fails again
The crown prince of the Scuderia had already spun after a mistake in Imola and given away important points in the overall standings. In Monaco and Great Britain, the strategy department of the Reds went awry, in both cases the World Cup aspirant not only lost the triumph he believed to be certain, but also the podium.
The frightening result: in the past seven races, the Monegasque has only been on the podium once. A debacle for Leclerc, who seems increasingly frustrated. Team boss Mattia Binotto defended his driver, but also stated: “It’s disappointing when you have reliability problems and mistakes like this happen.”
“Our package was great, we have a great car and a fantastic driver,” Binotto said on Sky. But in the Constructors’ Championship, the Red Bulls have galloped ahead of the Prancing Horse by 82 points.
changing of the guard? Vettel: “If we are given the right resources…”
Team strategy prevents Sainz podium
Also because team-mate Carlos Sainz also experienced a pitch-black weekend on the other side of the pit lane. After swapping several components, the Madrilene started in France from 19th place on the grid – and he looked like the stronger of the two Ferraris throughout the weekend.
“Without the penalty we would have been on pole position, victory would definitely have been possible,” said Sainz.
Even despite being set back, “we could have finished on the podium with a perfect race,” explained Sainz after the race. But the Scuderia rarely experiences perfect races this season. The 27-year-old’s race to catch up, who was named “Driver of the Day” after a flawless performance, was thrown back twice by his team’s mistakes.
Carlos Sainz
Fotocredit: Getty Images
Ferrari season turns into a nightmare
First he received a five-second penalty for an “unsafe release” after his pit stop during the safety car phase.
After he then worked his way past Sergio Pérez in third place, the team brought him into the pits a few laps from the end. Sainz lost the podium. “I don’t understand why we stopped,” Sainz wondered over the team radio.
After the race he defended the decisions and declared: “We will never know if the tires would have lasted until the end.”
The Spaniard, who has not seen the checkered flag four times this season, is now 89 points behind Verstappen after finishing fifth in Le Castellet. The season for the Reds is becoming more and more of a nightmare.
Charles Leclerc versus Max Verstappen
Fotocredit: Getty Images
Leclerc and Ferrari too weak
“In the second half of the championship I have to get these things under control if I want to become world champion,” said Leclerc clearly. Next weekend in Hungary, the Scuderia at least has the chance to set the course for catching up again before the summer break.
“We have new goals, namely a double win,” said Binotto courageously after the race in view of the Grand Prix in Budapest. It would be the first since the opening race in Bahrain.
That doesn’t seem likely given the Reds’ past performances.
French GP
Schumacher quarrels after qualifying penalty: “If you think that…”
YESTERDAY AT 18:37
French GP
Sainz leads Leclerc to pole – Schumacher experiences a bitter setback
YESTERDAY AT 15:02