Leclerc to Miss FP2 Following Chassis Damage in FP1 at Canadian GP
Charles Leclerc’s participation in the Canadian Grand Prix suffered a significant blow after he crashed during the first practice session, resulting in chassis damage to his Ferrari SF-25. The incident occurred shortly after the session began, as Leclerc led the pack before locking up at Turn 3, causing him to understeer off track and collide violently with the wall. The crash ultimately left the Monegasque driver with severe front-left corner damage.
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur confirmed that Leclerc’s car would require a chassis replacement, thus ruling him out of the afternoon’s second practice session. "We think that we damaged the chassis and we won’t be able to do FP2 by regulation," Vasseur stated. "We need to do some checks, and I think it’s over for today for Charles."
Leclerc ended FP1 in 10th position, and Ferrari announced that he will be eligible to participate in FP3, following the replacement of the survival cell. A spokesperson elaborated, “Due to the damage to his car, Charles Leclerc will not take part in FP2, as the survival cell on his SF-25 needs to be replaced.”
In a gesture of accountability, Leclerc acknowledged the error leading to the crash, apologizing to his team. The difficult track conditions were evident, as he was not alone in struggling for grip; Lewis Hamilton also spun at the hairpin, while both George Russell and Lando Norris experienced moments of snap oversteer.
Max Verstappen topped the timesheets in FP1, showcasing a slight edge over Williams’ Alex Albon and Leclerc’s teammate Carlos Sainz. As the teams regroup ahead of FP2, the focus shifts to the adjustments being made to counteract Montreal’s notoriously slippery circuit.
