Charles Leclerc thought his Ferrari was a goner after a crash during the second practice session (FP2) at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Caught off-guard by the kerb at Turn 4, the high-speed spin ended with Leclerc hitting the inside wall and setting off alarms that called for the Medical Car. Thankfully, he was fine.
Leclerc admitted the crash was ‘my mistake’ as he recounted the incident that brought out the red flags for 15 minutes. He lost control after running wide on the kerb, causing him to spin and collide with the barriers, even ripping through advertising hoardings. Yet, despite the dramatic scene, Leclerc was surprised the damage wasn’t as severe as expected. ‘Well, when I lost it, I thought the damage would be much bigger,’ Leclerc said. ‘The damage is not that big, but obviously it’s enough for us to not continue the session, and that’s never what you want.’
The crash cut short what had been a promising day for Ferrari. Leclerc had shown consistent performance, even ranking third in the first practice session (FP1). ‘The car was pretty good. The feeling is getting a little bit better, we had more of a consistent day compared to the last three or four weekends,’ stated Leclerc. However, this incident halted his progress, leaving him eager to make up for the lost time in the next session.
Ferrari introduced an upgraded floor to the Hungaroring, aiming to boost their competitiveness. Carlos Sainz, Leclerc’s teammate, even managed to top FP1, sparking some optimism. However, Leclerc remains cautious. ‘I wouldn’t get carried away too quickly, but the feeling is good,’ he remarked, noting that McLaren appeared particularly strong this weekend. ‘As I said, the feeling is good and that’s always a good sign. Now, we’ve got to put everything together tomorrow and I’m hopeful it will be done.’
While the crash was an unexpected hiccup, Leclerc is focusing on bouncing back in the upcoming sessions. With Ferrari’s upgrades and a positive feeling about the car, there’s hope for a strong performance ahead. It’s all about making the most of the practice sessions and gearing up for the race.
Source: Planetf1
