Laclerc Azerbaijan: What Went Wrong?

Charles Leclerc's hopes of a successful weekend at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix were dealt a blow after a crash in the first practice session and car troubles in the second. The Ferrari driver's woes continued in the race as he was forced to retire from the lead due to an engine failure, marking his second retirement in three races. With smoke pouring from his car, Leclerc's championship chances took a hit as he lost out on 25 points and the opportunity to narrow the gap to Verstappen to just one point.

Charles Leclerc crashed out of FP1 in Baku, Azerbaijan

Leclerc's crash in FP1 was not an isolated incident during the first practice session. Esteban Ocon, driving for Alpine, experienced a PU issue that prevented him from setting a lap. Additionally, a red flag was flown as a marshal cleared debris from the circuit to prevent it from getting stuck under a car. Another incident occurred when Franco Colapinto, collided with the wall on the exit of Turn 4. These incidents highlighted the challenges faced by drivers during the practice sessions, with Leclerc's crash being a notable setback for the Ferrari team.

Leclerc, who had previously won pole position in Azerbaijan three times, expressed his thoughts on the crash: "I braked a little bit too much on the right, the track was still dirty, I locked up and it was too late to go to the right [run-off] – so I went into the wall." Despite the setback, Leclerc maintained his confidence in the car and his team. He added, "It wasn’t great to start the weekend, but I still had a lot of confidence in the car, so there wasn’t much problem."

The Ferrari team's mechanics worked diligently to repair Leclerc's car, ensuring it was ready for FP2. However, Leclerc encountered another issue during the second practice session. He reported over the radio that "the car is bent somewhere," indicating a potential problem with the vehicle's alignment. The team replaced a faulty part, and Leclerc was able to continue his practice runs. Despite these challenges, Leclerc set the fastest time during FP2, just 0.006 seconds ahead of Red Bull rival Sergio Perez.

The series of incidents during the practice sessions in Baku, Azerbaijan, highlighted the unpredictable nature of Formula One racing. Despite the setbacks, Leclerc demonstrated resilience and determination to bounce back. His ability to adapt and maintain competitiveness underscores his skill as a driver, as he navigated the challenges of the street circuit.

The Ferrari driver collided with a barrier at Turn 15

Charles Leclerc, the Ferrari driver, collided with a barrier at Turn 15 during the first practice session of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The incident occurred when Leclerc locked up under braking and slid straight on, striking the barriers. This caused damage to the front of his car, with the right tyre facing the wrong direction. Despite this setback, Ferrari was able to complete repairs in time for the second practice session.

Leclerc himself attributed the crash to braking a little too much on the right, as well as the track being dirty. He acknowledged that it was not an ideal start to the weekend but maintained his confidence in the car. The Ferrari team worked efficiently to get the car ready for the second practice session, where Leclerc continued to experience challenges.

During the second practice session, Leclerc reported that the car felt "bent somewhere," indicating a potential issue with the vehicle's alignment or damage that was not immediately apparent. Despite this, Leclerc was able to set the fastest time during this session, finishing just ahead of Red Bull rival Sergio Perez.

The collision at Turn 15 was not the only challenge Leclerc faced during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend. In the race, Leclerc suffered an engine failure on the 20th lap, forcing him to retire from the competition. This engine failure dealt a significant blow to Leclerc's championship aspirations, as he had been leading the race up until that point.

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix in 2022 also proved challenging for Leclerc, as he experienced another early retirement due to mechanical issues. On that occasion, smoke was seen coming from the back of his car, causing him to pull off to the side of the track. These consecutive retirements highlighted reliability concerns for the Ferrari team.

Leclerc's car suffered engine failure on lap 20

Charles Leclerc's car suffered engine failure on lap 20 of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, forcing him to retire from the race. This marked another setback for Ferrari, as both their drivers were forced to withdraw from the competition through no fault of their own.

Leclerc's challenging experience in Azerbaijan began even before the race. During the first practice session, he crashed into the wall, causing significant damage to the front of his SF-24. Despite this initial hurdle, Ferrari managed to repair the car in time for the second practice session. However, Leclerc continued to encounter difficulties. He reported a peculiar issue with the car, stating that it felt "not straight." This issue prompted him to return to the pits, where Ferrari replaced a faulty part.

Leclerc's perseverance paid off, and he managed to set the fastest time during the second practice session, edging out Red Bull's Sergio Perez by a mere 0.006 seconds. This promising performance positioned him as a favourite for pole position, given his previous successes in Baku. However, his race in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix was cut short by the unexpected engine failure on lap 20.

The retirement from the race was a disappointment for Leclerc and Ferrari, especially considering their recent successes and Leclerc's strong track record in Azerbaijan. Despite this setback, Leclerc maintained a positive outlook, expressing confidence in his team and their ability to bounce back.

Leclerc's teammate, Carlos Sainz, also retired from the race

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku turned into a nightmare for Ferrari as both their drivers, Leclerc and his teammate Carlos Sainz, were forced into retirement.

Sainz was the first to retire on the ninth lap of the race. Replays showed that he navigated Turn 3 as normal, but a noise from his car saw him go straight on and bail out of Turn 4. A grinding sound then brought his car to a halt. Ferrari later confirmed that a hydraulic issue had ended his race.

Sainz expressed his disappointment with how the 2022 season was unfolding, stating that it was "definitely not going [his] way". He acknowledged the setback for the team and emphasized the importance of staying positive, hopeful for better days ahead.

Leclerc, on the other hand, faced his own set of challenges. After locking up at Turn 1, he had to retire on lap 20 when smoke started spewing from the back of his car. Ferrari confirmed that a power unit issue was the cause of his retirement. Leclerc described the situation as "really disappointing" and emphasized the need to address the issue to prevent it from happening again.

The double DNF for Ferrari allowed Red Bull to extend their lead in the Constructors' Championship. Max Verstappen took a dominant victory in Baku, with Sergio Perez finishing second, further widening the gap in the championship standings.

Leclerc's championship chances took a hit with his second retirement in three races

Charles Leclerc's championship chances took a hit at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix when he was forced to retire from the race due to engine failure on the 20th lap. This was Leclerc's second retirement in three races, and it came at a crucial moment as he was leading the race after an excellent strategy call by his team. The mechanical failure, which resulted in smoke coming from the back of his car, dealt a significant blow to his championship aspirations.

Leclerc's retirement in Azerbaijan was particularly costly in terms of points. He stood to gain 25 points and reduce the deficit to his rival, Max Verstappen, to just one point. However, due to the retirement, he lost the opportunity to gain those crucial points. This setback added to the team's reliability issues, which had already impacted his performance earlier in the season.

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix started on a challenging note for Leclerc, as he crashed during the first practice session and encountered car troubles during the second session. Despite these initial setbacks, Leclerc demonstrated his resilience and skill by finishing at the top of the timesheets on Friday. He attributed his crash to braking a little too much on the right, with the track still being dirty, resulting in a lock-up that sent him into the wall.

Leclerc's teammate, Carlos Sainz, also experienced a similar mechanical failure during the opening laps of the race. This triggered a virtual safety car situation, which Leclerc was able to take advantage of. However, despite the team's strategy, Leclerc's car ultimately succumbed to mechanical issues, forcing him out of the race.

Leclerc expressed his disappointment and frustration following his retirement from the race. He acknowledged the need to thoroughly investigate the issue to prevent similar incidents in the future. Despite their improved performance compared to the beginning of the season, Leclerc and his team were at a loss to explain the persistent reliability problems.

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