The Italian Grand Prix was supposed to be a Ferrari celebration on home soil. Instead, the opening lap became a headline in its own right after a moment between the two Ferrari drivers heading into Turn 2. Days later, in the run-up to the next race weekend, Charles finally broke his silence. 

The headlines at the Italian Grand Prix began after Leclerc made an aggressive dive down Turn 1. Due to this, Lewis Hamilton was shoved into the gravel, causing him to plummet down the packing order on Lap 1 of the Grand Prix. Afterward, the tension between the two Ferrari drivers seemed evident. 

However, ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix at Madrid, the No. 16 driver spoke to the media and accepted the blame for the incident. 

"Having the Turn 2 incident is not something we ever want to see again," Leclerc said while speaking to the media, as reported by Formula One on their website. "And for that, reviewing the images, it’s pretty clear that I could have done a better job just slowing down the car and not putting Lewis then in a difficult situation."

Furthermore, Leclerc explained how it was important for both him and Hamilton to communicate. 

"I think what was very important was to speak, first of all. It's been quite a few years now that I’m in Ferrari — and I kind of know how it feels when everything around Ferrari is kind of on fire. And if you don’t speak between Lewis and I, then you can get caught up with this noise that there is around the team."

With the air cleared about his relationship with Hamilton, Leclerc gave another update about another issue from the Italian Grand Prix. 

Charles Leclerc gives an update about his health

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, despite being cleared to race at the Madring, the Monégasque driver did not shy away from speaking to the media about the immediate impact of the crash and the lingering effect it had. In the aforementioned interview, he spoke about the same. 

"I will be 100% fine. I mean, it was only right after the crash that it was just a little bit strange, and I felt a little bit dizzy," Leclerc said as reported by Formula One. "But very quickly, from Monday afternoon, I felt better. I had quite a few treatments for the neck, because that’s where most of the shock went, and I’m feeling good now. 

He further spoke about how all the checks indicated that he was 100% fit to race this weekend at the Madring. 

With the additional medical checks giving him the all-clear, Leclerc heads into the Spanish Grand Prix fully focused on the track rather than the aftermath of Monza. 

Written by

Chionia Libania Colaco