Leclerc to Miss FP2 After Chassis Damage in FP1 Crash
Montreal, Canada – Charles Leclerc will sit out the second practice session at the Canadian Grand Prix following a crash in Friday’s opening practice. The Ferrari driver was leading early in FP1 when he lost control at Turn 3, resulting in a significant collision with the wall that damaged the front left of his SF-25.
Ferrari Team Principal Frederic Vasseur confirmed the extent of the damage, stating, "We think that we damaged the chassis and we won’t be able to do FP2 by regulation.” Due to the necessary chassis replacement and safety checks, Leclerc will not return to the track on Friday but is expected to participate in FP3 on Saturday.
Despite the incident, Leclerc expressed regret for his mistake, categorizing it as a driver error. He was not alone in facing challenges; several competitors encountered issues in the low-grip conditions, with Lewis Hamilton spinning at the hairpin, while both George Russell and Lando Norris also experienced oversteer.
Max Verstappen topped the charts in FP1, posting the fastest time, closely followed by Williams’ Alex Albon and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz.
Ferrari confirmed that while Leclerc cannot participate in the afternoon practice, he will be eligible for Saturday’s sessions post-chassis replacement.
These developments set a dramatic tone for the weekend ahead as teams continue their preparation on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
