Summary of Charles Leclerc's Crash in Azerbaijan Grand Prix FP1

Charles Leclerc experienced a dismal start to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend, with a significant crash disrupting the first practice session (FP1). Attempting to navigate the tricky Turn 15 of the Baku City Circuit, Leclerc carried too much speed, causing him to lose control and crash head-on into the barriers. The red flag was immediately waved to signal his crash, ending his participation in FP1. Notably known for its incidents, the Baku City Circuit posed a challenge right from the onset of FP1. Earlier in the session, a red flag was already brought out by debris from Franco Colapinto's Williams car before Leclerc's unfortunate brush with the walls.

Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 world champion, mentioned that Leclerc missed the kerb and approached the turn with excessive speed, leading to a panic lock-up. Echoing this sentiment, Karun Chandhok pointed out that the mistake, though regrettable, might be less critical this early in the weekend, giving him a chance to adjust by FP2.

Leclerc communicated to his race engineer, Bryan Bozzi, asserting that dirt on the outside of the track was a contributing factor. There was substantial damage to the front of his Ferrari, but the team expected it to be ready for FP2.

Leclerc wasn't the only driver facing challenges during FP1. Esteban Ocon couldn't set a lap time due to a power unit (PU) issue in his Alpine. Additionally, Franco Colapinto collided with the wall at Turn Four, causing significant damage to his Williams.

Separately, Leclerc addressed Adrian Newey’s move to Aston Martin on Sky Sports, expressing respect for Newey's decision. While acknowledging Newey's achievements, Leclerc voiced his confidence in Ferrari's collective strength and hoped for Ferrari's resurgence to the top.

Earlier, SSP wrote that Jannik Sinner defeated Jack Draper in US Open Semi-Final.