Leclerc doubly trapped by… a tear-off from Verstappen

No, it's not Mario Kart, but it almost feels like it. Ferrari explained the reasons for the setbacks of Charles Leclerc during the Belgian Grand Prix. The Monegasque, who started in 15th place, had to stop prematurely at the end of the first lap.

The reason ? A tear-off (editor's note. a protective plastic applied to the pilots' helmet, which they remove as the visor gets dirty) of the helmet Max Verstappen got stuck in the brake duct of the right front wheel. The pilot Red Bull explained that because of the dirt on the track, he had removed his tear-off on the first lap. Leclerc, who was right behind him, then picked it up unintentionally. He was then forced to stop so his mechanics could remove the piece of plastic.

Verstappen's tear-off broke Leclerc's sensors

Coming out in last position, Charles Leclerc's recovery was therefore slowed down and less rapid than that of Verstappen. Although the Ferrari driver was able to move back into 5th place by passing the checkered flag, he was immediately penalized 5 seconds for speeding during his last pit stop.

And the explanation given by Ferrari is once again incredible. “The reason we were penalized for speeding in the pits was because we couldn't use our usual sensors. They stopped working after the right front wheel overheated. This is linked to the tear-off of Max Verstappen, who nestled in the scoop of Charles at the start of the race., explained Mattia Binotto at the finish of the Grand Prix.

Ultimately, Leclerc finished 6th in the Belgian Grand Prix. If the “tear-off gate” quickly dashed the Monegasque's hopes of a podium, the F1-75 from Maranello seemed out of the game at Spa anyway, reflecting the difficulties encountered by Sainz.

🗨️ “They didn’t even tell me that”

When Charles Leclerc learns of his five-second penalty on our microphone 🎙️#BelgianGP | ▶️ https://t.co/t7uFs3yVeh pic.twitter.com/R1vM2WMtrr

— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) August 28

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