Ferrari announced that Charles Leclerc will miss the second practice session at the Canadian Grand Prix after suffering a significant crash during the opening 20 minutes of the first practice at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. The incident caused considerable damage to his SF-25 car, forcing the team to replace the survival cell, preventing his participation in FP2.
Leclerc lost control as he entered Turn 3, locking up his brakes and running wide across the chicane. Miscalculating the available space, he collided heavily with the left-side wall. Initially, the crash appeared minor, but further inspection revealed more extensive damage, especially to the car’s chassis and survival cell components.
Ferrari confirmed the decision to withdraw Leclerc from FP2 due to the need to repair and replace crucial parts of the car. The team stated:
“Due to the damage to his car sustained in the crash in FP1, Charles Leclerc will not take part in FP2, as the survival cell on his SF-25 needs to be replaced.”
As per the regulations, Charles will be able to drive in FP3.
The Impact on Leclerc’s and Hamilton’s Weekend Preparation
Leclerc’s absence from the second practice session will disrupt Ferrari’s preparation for the race weekend as he loses valuable track time to conduct race simulations and optimize car setup. This setback affects not only Leclerc himself but also his teammate Lewis Hamilton, who relies on consistent data to perform back-to-back tire comparisons.
Former F1 driver and commentator Martin Brundle reflected on the severity of the crash and its consequences ahead of FP2:
“I mean if you’re going to do that then today is a better day to do it than Saturday. I am not surprised there’s that much damage because when you pluck the wheels like that and they swing around especially at the rear with the gearbox and the driveshafts, and the front.”
Brundle added insight into how the crash affected the car’s chassis:
“You’ve got the tethers and it keeps the wheels close to the car but then they come back in and damage the chassis. That was actually a big crash in terms of damage.”
“It’s a great shame. They will lose one car in terms of doing longer runs in FP2 and getting the high fuel data. It compromises Lewis and Charles through the weekend so they’ve got some catching up to do. FP3 tomorrow morning will be super important for them.”
—Martin Brundle, Former F1 Driver and Commentator
What Lies Ahead for Ferrari After Leclerc’s Crash
The damage to Leclerc’s car and the lost running time at the Canadian Grand Prix present a significant challenge for Ferrari as they try to regain momentum. With FP3 now critical for gathering data and preparing for qualifying and the race, the team must work quickly to optimize setup and performance despite these setbacks. Leclerc’s ability to participate in the next session will be key to regaining track time and minimizing the impact of this unexpected interruption.
This crash not only delays Leclerc’s weekend progress but also hampers strategic development for the entire Ferrari squad, highlighting the fragile nature of F1 competition where every session contributes to race-day success.
