Mysterious Leclerc crash: Log the Ferrari driver for the team?

"I wouldn't rule it out"

Created: 2022-08-12 05:54

By: Marius Epp

Charles Leclerc immediately took the blame for his crash in France.

But was it really his driving mistake?

There are still doubts about that.

Le Castellet - It serves as a symbol for the previous Ferrari season in Formula 1: A little over two weeks ago Charles Leclerc put his car in the lead at the French Grand Prix into the wall.

Fast but flawed – that applies to both the drivers and the Scuderia team in 2022.

The great potential of the car was not used due to strategy mistakes, technical failures or driving errors, which is why it is probably not enough for the world title this year.

Driving mistakes like that of Leclerc in France.

But although the Monegasque immediately took the blame, there is still discussion in the racing scene as to whether a problem with the car was the cause of the crash.

Formula 1: Leclerc apology just an excuse?

Expert is sure

Most experts initially assumed that the car was defective before Leclerc blamed himself.

Ex-Formula 1 driver Hans-Joachim Stuck described the crash

as a "riddle" in an interview with

Charles Leclerc and Ferrari have not always given a happy picture this season.

© IMAGO/Marco Canoniero

The 71-year-old is certain that it wasn't Leclerc's fault that brought the car out of balance: "If you look at the accident a hundred times, the oversteering didn't come from him.

I imagine he was told by the team to claim he made a mistake even though there was a problem with the car.

I wouldn't rule that out," he said.

Ex-Formula 1 driver Hans-Joachim Stuck: "There is enormous pressure" at Ferrari

He gave the reason right away: "There is enormous pressure there." Stuck is not entirely wrong, because it has often been shown that the current Ferrari can be a winning car.

Nevertheless, Charles Leclerc is a whopping 70 World Championship points behind the leader Max Verstappen (for the driver classification).

All German Formula 1 drivers since 1980

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Whether the "stall order" between Ferrari and Leclerc actually existed in this case is pure speculation, there is no evidence of it.

In any case, the driver's words didn't sound rehearsed, his expression showed how much he was at odds with himself.

"It's no use performing at a high level if I make mistakes like that," said Leclerc.

"It wasn't a technical problem.

At least I don't know anything about it."