Charles Leclerc wasn't certain to race in Madrid. After a violent impact with the barriers at Monza's Parabolica, his chances of racing there remained in limbo. Now, as the paddock arrives at the Madring, the picture has finally cleared up. 

Leclerc's Italian Grand Prix ended after just two laps, when he lost control of his Ferrari heading into the Parabolica and slammed into the barriers at 60G. He climbed out unaided, and while initial checks found no injuries, the severity of the impact meant further medical evaluation before he could be cleared to race. 

However, according to the reports released, Leclerc's medical checks have now been completed, removing the uncertainty that had hung over his Madrid weekend. 

"Leclerc has been cleared to compete in Madrid this weekend. It is welcome news for Ferrari, which must quickly move on from a disappointing home race at Monza." As reported by GPBlog on their website on September 7th.

Ferrari's home race at Monza was one to forget. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton made contact early on lap one, and by lap two Leclerc was out of the race entirely after his crash at the Parabolica, an incident severe enough to bring out the red flag. 

With Leclerc scoring zero points in front of the Tifosi and Hamilton's own title hopes fading, Ferrari heads into Madrid with plenty to put right. 

With the green light secured, attention now turns to how Charles Leclerc handles a circuit nobody on the grid has raced before. The Madring offers no prior data, no muscle memory, and no track history to fall back on just a clean slate for a driver eager to put Monza behind him. 

Charles Leclerc’s and Lewis Hamilton’s tense opening lap at Monza

Long before the crash, Leclerc was already making headlines for a different reason: a tense, opening-lap fight with teammate Lewis Hamilton. 

Hamilton, starting one spot behind in fourth, dove down the inside as the cars approached the opening chicane. The two ran side by side through the corner, but Hamilton got squeezed wide and found himself in the gravel. 

While the FIA didn't investigate, Sky Sports' Karun Chandhok broke it down differently, telling co-analyst Martin Brundle that Leclerc got the better start, with Hamilton only drawing level thanks to the slipstream.

As the pair converged under braking, Chandhok argued, Charles Leclerc was simply holding his line, not deliberately shutting the door.

"But I fully agree with Martin, in the sense that you put yourself on the outside in a position of risk by trying to go around the outside of another car. That’s always a risky move and a gap that is always going to close," Chandhok said as reported by Planet F1.

Chandhok's verdict was clear: Hamilton took the bigger gamble. It was an edgy start to Ferrari's afternoon, one that turned far more serious just laps later.

Written by

Chionia Libania Colaco