Charles Leclerc crash Ferrari's fault, fumes Nico Rosberg

Charles Leclerc

Leclerc crash Ferrari's fault, fumes Rosberg

The 2016 champion isn't happy with Ferrari's tactics.

Matthew Scott

Saturday 27 April 2019 20:07

Nico Rosberg pointed the finger of blame squarely at Ferrari over Charles Leclerc crashing into the wall during qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Leclerc had been the fastest driver on-track all weekend until he smashed his SF90 into the barriers at the castle complex of the Baku circuit.

Leclerc topped all three practice sessions and was the man to beat in Q1, although Pierre Gasly ended up quicker with a late run.

With one eye on Sunday, Ferrari sent Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel out for Q2 on medium tyres – hoping they would set times quick enough to start the race on more durable rubber and give them an advantage over Ferrari.

However, Vettel almost crashed going into Turn 8 shortly before Leclerc did career into the barrier, with Mercedes going on to lock out the front row, with Valtteri Bottas on pole.

Rosberg said via his YouTube channel: "They [Ferrari] bought new pieces all around [the car] and that really seems to be a good step for them now, so that's really great to see they really upped their performance level.

"Then, however, I mean come on – unbelievable!

"They just completely threw it away again in qualifying. [It is] just unreal how they manage to do it every single time.

"Leclerc was on for a definite pole position. He was really on it all weekend, and I don't even blame it on him, I blame it on the team.

"In Quali 2, they decided they're going to be even smarter and put on the hard [medium] tyre, because they thought 'if we start the race on the harder tyre, that's going to give us even more benefits because we're so fast anyway'.

"It's like over-confidence, I don't know. It just went completely pear-shaped for them from that moment on.

"Not on a street circuit, don't mess about like that. The drivers need rhythm and everything.

"Sure thing what happened right afterwards, Charles Leclerc was in the wall with his medium tyre locking up because of a lack of grip.

"Vettel was nearly in the wall as well, he had a big moment there, so for me they just completely threw it away for Leclerc to be on pole and that's terrible."