Pierre Gasly to discuss Charles Leclerc Styrian GP incident with FIA

Gassy and Leclerc clash at the start of the Styrian Grand Prix — Photo: © LAT Images

Pierre Gasly - Charles Leclerc

Gasly to discuss Leclerc Styrian GP incident with FIA

Friends Gasly and Leclerc collided at the start of Sunday's Styrian GP

Ian Parkes & Will Gray

Thursday 1 July 2021 17:15

Pierre Gasly will discuss his Styrian Grand Prix opening-lap collision with Charles Leclerc in the drivers’ briefing ahead of this weekend’s race but feels happy with his friend’s response after a post-race “p***ed off” meeting.

Leclerc’s Ferrari collided with Gasly’s AlphaTauri at the Red Bull Ring, putting the Frenchman out of the race while Leclerc dropped to the back but raced on to claim seventh at the finish.

Gasly revealed: “[Leclerc] came to see me after the race. I was still p***ed off. It doesn’t matter if you're friends, I was still upset, but I know him, I know the way he races, he is a fair guy, he didn’t do it on purpose.

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“Its just hard, but it’s a part of racing, these happen once in a while. We’ve been in F1 together for four years, came together close many times and unfortunately this time I had to retire.

“We knew it would happen one day. I mean, it’s always painful, I was extremely disappointed to miss the race and miss an opportunity to score points. But at the same time, I know it wasn’t done on purpose, it was a mistake from his side.

“It’s never nice, whether it’s with Charles or another. It was obviously a painful one to take but it is part of racing, it happens. I know him, it probably won’t happen another time. We just need to make sure it doesn’t happen any more.”

Gasly to speak with FIA on incident

Gasly was surprised the incident was not investigated by the stewards after the race, however, and feels that some discussion must be had to ensure safe racing in the second race at the track this weekend.

The 25-year-old highlighted, in particular, the fact Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas received a three-place grid penalty for his spin in the pitlane which had no impact on any other driver.

He added: “Obviously, it’s not something which Charles deliberately did, but for sure it had quite a big consequence on my race.

“After seeing Valtteri [Bottas] getting a penalty for losing control of his car in the pit lane but not really affecting anyone else’s race, and this, which obviously had an impact on my race, I was a bit surprised.

“At the end, for me, the clear thing is it would have not changed my race, the damage was already done, so in the end it doesn’t really matter to me, but I must say I was a bit surprised at the time that there was no further investigation.

“At the end of the day I just care about my own race and it would have not changed anything on that side, so it is just something we are probably going to talk [about] with [FIA race director] Michael [Masi].”