Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix – Francophone Report: Charles Leclerc
The podium seemed within reach for Charles Leclerc at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. However, an error towards the end of the race deprived him of it.
Starting in second position on the starting grid, Charles Leclerc seemed to have the cards in his hands to collect valuable points for a podium. However, Leclerc and the Scuderia are far from their double in Bahrain.
A Ferrari – McLaren duel at the start
At the start of this Grand Prix, McLaren driver Lando Norris took the lead over his Monégasque rival. An advantage he managed to maintain until the eighth lap of the race.
From the first lap of the Italian circuit, the safety car had to make its entrance. A contact between Daniel Ricciardo and Carlos Sainz sent the Ferrari driver into the gravel trap and deprived him of the remainder of this Grand Prix. On the restart, Lando Norris placed his MCL36 behind the two leaders of the day, Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.
After a few attempts, the Monegasque driver finally managed to overcome his British rival in the eighth lap. However, after a pit stop at the halfway point, Lando Norris came out ahead of Leclerc and reignited this duel.
A costly mistake.
A few laps away from the checkered flag, Charles Leclerc stepped up the pace to reclaim his third position, taken by Lando Norris. While he managed to do so on the soft tires, the rapid degradation of his tires forced Leclerc into a mistake. Getting closer and closer to Sergio Perez, who was second behind Max Verstappen, the Monegasque took risks on the Italian track.
On the 53rd lap, the driver attempts to pass the chicane as quickly as possible and is caught off guard by the rumble strips. Leclerc loses control of the F1-75 and spins, crashing into the opposite wall. Fortunately for him, the damage is minimal but still requires him to go to the pit for a relatively long stop.
The Monégasque came out in ninth position and managed to minimize the damage with a sixth-place finish at the checkered flag.
However, the outcome of this Grand Prix is far from the dreams of the Scuderia in the land of the Tifosi, with Carlos Sainz’s retirement on the first lap and Charles Leclerc’s sixth place finish. The reds will have to regroup before the Miami Grand Prix in two weeks.
