Charles Leclerc had an afternoon to forget at the Autódromo de Interlagos during this Sunday’s Formula 1 São Paulo GP. The Ferrari driver lost control of his car on the opening lap, forcing him to abandon the race before it even started.
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While his competitors were on the track, the Monegasque driver expressed his frustration on social media. “I am deeply disappointed. I lost hydraulic pressure and engine power on the formation lap. This is very frustrating,” Leclerc wrote on his official X (formerly Twitter) account. Leclerc had taken second place on the grid during Friday’s qualifying session and was one of the favorites to fight for first place in the race.
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His distress following the incident, when he spun on the track and collided with an advertising sign, was captured on team radio. “Why am I having so much bad luck? Why am I having so much bad luck?” he asked.
As he walked back to the Ferrari pits, Leclerc received a standing ovation from the crowd at Interlagos, showing support for the problems he faced. In an interview with British broadcaster Sky Sports, Leclerc mentioned that he was aware of the real problem with his car, but could not go into detail. Furthermore, the São Paulo GP was also marked by another accident at the beginning of the race. On the first lap, French driver Esteban Ocon, from Alpine, collided with Kevin Magnussen, from Haas, causing both to abandon the race. Magnussen’s car stopped in front of one of the stands, and the crowd ironically shouted the name of the Danish driver.