Leclerc ‘Ashamed’ After Latest Crash Ruins Barcelona GP Qualifying

BARCELONA, June 14 (Bernama-PA Media/dpa) -- Charles Leclerc said he felt “ashamed” after crashing for the third time in eight days in Barcelona, reported PA Media/dpa.

The Monegasque careered into the barriers at turn four on his first run in Q3 at the Circuit de Catalunya, ending his pursuit of pole position and leaving him 10th at best for Sunday’s race.

The 28-year-old hit the barriers in qualifying at his home race last weekend before being knocked out of the race as he trundled nose-first into the wall.

He blasted brake issues for that crash and chose to change them on his Ferrari ahead of this weekend to match those of team-mate Lewis Hamilton.

But Leclerc, whose Ferrari suffered significant damage, offered no excuses for his latest crash, saying: “There’s no excuses and there’s nothing of that (brakes).

“I feel very ashamed, after the last three weekends that have been particularly difficult for me… this weekend, I think everything felt really, really good.

“In these days I need to deliver and I feel very ashamed in general.”

Leclerc signed a new long-term Ferrari contract ahead of his home race last weekend.

He sits fourth in the driver standings this season, 15 points behind Hamilton as Ferrari’s wait for a first win since Mexico City in 2024 goes on.

Leclerc added to Sky Sports: “The feeling with the car was amazing and I didn’t deliver. If anything, it’s a lot worse than that; I put it into the wall.

“So there’s no excuses. I just felt ashamed. Obviously it’s part of our job to come after a session and speak in front of the cameras but when these things happen, especially after the last few weekends that have been particularly tough to find performance in general, I just feel ashamed.”

--BERNAMA-PA MEDIA/dpa