Leclerc Reflects on Monaco Setback and Brake Issues Ahead of Barcelona

Charles Leclerc hasn't quite shaken off the disappointment of his untimely departure from the Monaco Grand Prix. Reflecting on the incident, he admitted that his abrupt exit from the race "still hurts," but he's trying to turn his focus to the future. Leclerc had been holding onto a podium spot when a late Safety Car restart led to his Ferrari careening into the barriers at the final corner, ending his race prematurely.

In the aftermath, Leclerc was candid about his frustrations, describing himself as "extremely disappointed, sad, and angry." He highlighted the brake issues that contributed to his crash, saying, "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. 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."

Ahead of the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, Leclerc spoke to the media about whether Ferrari had addressed the brake problems. "I’m not going to go into too much detail," he said, suggesting that while there might not be a full fix, they will try to make the most of the upcoming weekend. "Monaco hurts, but it’s the way it is now. I cannot change that anymore and I’ve got to look forward."

Leclerc was pressed for more information on the brake situation but remained tight-lipped. "Not a lot, to be completely honest. We’ll do what we think is best on our side and try to maximise whatever we can do," he remarked. Leclerc, an eight-time race winner, acknowledged the sting of crashing out at home, saying, "It still hurts, Monaco. I’m pretty good normally at moving on, but I think this one hurts because it’s also home."

Looking ahead to the upcoming race, Leclerc is trying to temper expectations. "I think realistically Mercedes still remain the benchmark," he commented. "I think Mercedes will still be extremely strong. Red Bull were strong in Monaco, so it’s not like we are the only ones making progress." He emphasized the importance of focusing on Ferrari's performance rather than getting caught up in the competition.

On the subject of the brakes, Leclerc admitted the last couple of weekends have been difficult. "Overall, I think going forward we’ll change slightly the configuration of how we run our brakes," he said, noting that while the changes might not be revolutionary, he expects some improvement during certain race phases.

As he prepares to hit the track again, Leclerc is eager to put Monaco behind him. "Now I'm just looking forward to being back on track tomorrow and driving again. That’s the best way to forget about what happened last weekend," he concluded.