Charles Leclerc is still not certain he will be able to participate in the Spanish Grand Prix after his violent accident in Monza, and Scuderia has taken precautions with its reserve driver Antonio Giovinazzi.
Read more Max Verstappen reveals his big goal after F1: «I want a real chance to win»
Ferrari is preparing for all eventualities before the first Grand Prix held at the Madring.
A few days after his spectacular accident during the Italian Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc is not yet certain he can get back behind the wheel.
A final medical check-up
The Monegasque lost control of his SF-26 exiting the Parabolica before violently hitting the barriers. Although he was able to get out of his car on his own, Leclerc later reported vision problems, leading to additional medical examinations this week.
While awaiting a final decision, Ferrari has sent Antonio Giovinazzi to Madrid. The Scuderia’s reserve driver will be able to take over if Leclerc is not authorized to participate in the weekend after having familiarized himself with the Madring on the simulator in Maranello upon his return from Austin, where he competed in the WEC last weekend.
Leclerc nevertheless wanted to reassure in a message posted on social media: “Thank you for all your messages. Physically, it was a big shock, but I am fine. Emotionally, it hurts even more when something like this happens here, at home, in front of all of you, the Tifosi.”
Ferrari examines Leclerc’s ADUO2
Leclerc’s physical condition is not Ferrari’s only concern after the Monza accident. The Monegasque’s SF-26 was equipped with the latest evolution of Ferrari’s power unit, the ADUO2, introduced precisely for the Italian Grand Prix. Some reports indicate that the engine survived the impact.
Read more Max Verstappen confirms his talks with rival teams
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Ferrari is continuing its analyses to ensure that all its components can continue to be used safely: “In the coming hours, Ferrari will have to decide whether to replace the engine and its components.”
This decision could have significant consequences for the Madrid weekend. If Ferrari has to replace enough elements of the power unit to exceed the allowed quota, Leclerc would face a grid penalty.
On the other hand, any potential damage to the gearbox would no longer automatically cause a penalty under the regulations in force this season.
Petrov questions the risks taken by Leclerc
The severity of the accident has also reignited discussions about mistakes made by Leclerc this season. In a column published by Championat, former Formula 1 driver Vitaly Petrov notably stated that the Monegasque seems to regularly find himself in risky situations that could lead to an accident.
“I like Charles, his approach, his speed and everything else, but I don’t understand why he regularly encounters problems that lead to accidents,” wrote the Russian. “Maybe Leclerc acted this way because of the pressure and the sense of responsibility towards the fans during Ferrari’s home Grand Prix.”
However, this is Petrov’s personal interpretation and not an explanation put forward by Leclerc or Ferrari regarding his accident. In all likelihood, he will be the starter this weekend with Giovinazzi as backup in the garage.
Read more Le Madring could completely reshuffle the cards: four teams can aim for victory