Leclerc hints at immediate technical changes from Barcelona after his crash in Monaco GP
Originally published by F1Technical
Ferrari’s Monaco weekend ended in heartbreak for Charles Leclerc, who saw a likely podium turn into a violent crash at the final corner — the culmination of brake issues that had plagued him all event and ultimately made the car, in his words, “impossible” to drive.
Ferrari arrived in Monaco with genuine podium pace. Lewis Hamilton ran second in the opening phase, Leclerc third, and the team looked set for a strong double‑finish.
Even the mid‑race pit‑lane speeding penalty for Hamilton — served under the Safety Car thanks to Ferrari’s double‑stop — did not change the order: Hamilton stayed ahead, Leclerc stayed close, and both cars appeared locked into a comfortable 2–3. But with just laps to go, Leclerc’s race unravelled in the most brutal way possible.
Leclerc suggested that his crash at Rascasse was not a driver error. It was the result of a brake problem he had been fighting since the Canadian Grand Prix— and one that struck again at the worst possible moment.
“Finishing my home race like this is disappointing. I had an issue with my rear brakes in the last corner and hit the wall. The positive to take from this weekend is that we have a solution in place and will adjust the configuration of my brakes.”
Asked to describe his feelings after the race, Leclerc noted: “I’m extremely disappointed, sad, angry – a mixture of negative emotions.”
Pressed on what exactly happened, Leclerc made clear that the problem was not subtle: “I don’t know how much I can go into the details, but… I don’t think… I mean, it’s just not acceptable.
"The issues I have faced with my brakes have been… it’s not that it’s difficult, it’s that in this particular moment it’s just impossible," the Monegasque continued.
He described a situation where the car simply would not slow down: “I cannot do anything. The only thing I can do is not brake for the last corner, but in an F1 corner not braking in the last corner ends up in the wall anyway.”
Even the lightest touch on the pedal was too much: “I put the least amount of brakes I could possibly do, and it’s not even braking, it’s leaning my foot on the brake.”
And the core of the problem: “The rear brakes were not working at all, so I don’t know if there was an issue there, or if it’s the inconsistency I get, and the front delivered a lot more than what it should, so that’s what happened.”
Ferrari’s contrasting fortunes: Hamilton salvages P2While Leclerc’s race ended in the barriers, Hamilton secured second place — his eighth Monaco podium, equalling the all‑time record. His race was not without drama: a pit‑lane speeding penalty threatened to drop him behind Leclerc, but Ferrari’s strategic choice to pit both cars under the Safety Car allowed Hamilton to serve the penalty without losing track position.
Leclerc had been closing the gap before the Safety Car, reducing Hamilton’s advantage to just three seconds. But after the restart, the Monegasque never got the chance to attack — the brake failure struck almost immediately.
Leclerc leaves Monaco with zero points, but with one crucial positive: Ferrari believe they have finally identified the root cause of the brake inconsistency that has haunted him since Montreal’s Sprint weekend.
He emphasised that the team already has a direction: “The positive to take from this weekend is that we have a solution in place and will adjust the configuration of my brakes.”
Until next time Monaco 🇲🇨 pic.twitter.com/E1pykfGLhD
— Scuderia Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) June 7, 2026