Ferrari detail sombre debrief after Leclerc crash
Ferrari detail sombre debrief after Leclerc crash
Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto has conceded the mood was "not great" in the team's post-French Grand Prix debrief.
Carlos Sainz had been fastest all weekend at Paul Ricard but engine penalties resulting in a back-of-the-grid start ensured the Spaniard would only finish fifth.
The crash that saw Charles Leclerc drop out from the lead for the third time in the first 12 races provided a hammer blow to the championship hopes of both team and driver as rival Max Verstappen was gifted the victory.
The Monégasque had said after the race that he wanted to be alone in the build-up to this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix but before leaving the circuit, the team had to dive into its post-race analysis.
"The debrief was certainly difficult, the mood was not great," Binotto told Sky Sports F1.
"Charles went home soon after and stayed home really, tried to relax and focus on Hungary.
"He is back, I think he really wants to do well. He has already turned the page with regard to Paul Ricard. He is fast at the moment, he is in great shape and he can win."
Leclerc still believes in title chances
Leclerc did not leave Monaco during the build-up to the Budapest weekend and asked what he got up to, he replied: "I just stayed at home.
"My mum and my brothers came to see me on Monday night, my friends Tuesday night, sport every day and that’s it."
Verstappen's lead over Leclerc now stands at 63 points, with no driver having ever overhauled a championship deficit of more than 44 points to win the title - though the Dutchman has already recovered from a 46-point gap after the opening three rounds.
But asked whether he still thought he could take a maiden championship this season, Leclerc insisted: "I will believe in it until the very end."
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
F1 pundit reveals the thing about Wolff that ANNOYS Horner
- 38 minutes ago
Newey exit DATE revealed as Red Bull F1 chief set to leave
- 1 hour ago
F1 News Today: Red Bull star set to QUIT team as F1 legend reveals flood of death threats
- 3 hours ago
Audi agree STAR driver contract as Mercedes driver tipped for new F1 seat THIS season - GPFans F1 Recap
- Yesterday 23:57
Ferrari show off new-look drivers following HUGE announcement
- Yesterday 22:57
McLaren leading fight for HUGE cash injection
- Yesterday 21:57
Related news
Ferrari show off new-look drivers following HUGE announcement
Sky Sports F1 pundit dumbfounded by key Ferrari decision
F1 giants announce name change with IMMEDIATE effect
Ferrari announce HUGE F1 change to iconic red livery
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860