Charles Leclerc pinpoints whether Oscar Piastri was to blame for his Brazilian Grand Prix retirement

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Charles Leclerc could have been on course for a podium finish at the Brazilian Grand Prix, but he was wiped out of the race in the early stages.

The Monegasque driver qualified P3, while Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton was knocked out in Q2 and lined up 13th. Hope was placed on Leclerc to score a strong result for the Maranello outfit, but it turned out to be a disastrous race for the team.

Hamilton dropped to last after contact with Carlos Sainz on the first corner, before he lost his front wing in a collision with Franco Colapinto down the main straight. After the safety car – caused by Gabriel Bortoleto hitting the barriers, Leclerc went three-wide into turn one at the restart.

The Ferrari star was on the outside of Kimi Antonelli when Oscar Piastri went lunging into turn one on the inside. The Mercedes driver closed the door and the pair banged wheels, sending the Italian into the path of Leclerc.

Charles Leclerc doesn’t think Oscar Piastri is solely to blame for Brazilian Grand Prix retirement

The 27-year-old’s front left tyre eviscerated on impact, with subsequent suspension damage ruling him out of the race. Piastri was handed a 10-second time penalty for the collision and later finished the race fifth, while Hamilton retired on lap 40, sealing a double DNF for Ferrari.

While Piastri was penalised for the incident, Leclerc did not put all the blame on the McLaren driver. Speaking in the media pen after the race on Sky Sports F1 (09/11, 7:18 pm), he also felt Antonelli should take some responsibility.

“Oscar was optimistic, but Kimi knew that Oscar was on the inside, I think. And he kind of did the corner like Oscar was never there,” he said.

“For me, the blame is not all on Oscar. Yes, it was optimistic, but this could have been avoided. I’m frustrated.

“At the end of the day, I’m not angry with any of Oscar or Kimi, these things happen. But I wouldn’t go as far as saying that it’s all Oscar’s fault. I don’t think it is.”

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Ferrari drop to fourth in the constructors’ championship

Ferrari’s double DNF has proved costly for their bid to finish second in the constructors’ championship. They are now down to fourth, with Red Bull leapfrogging them.

Mercedes had a brilliant weekend in Sao Paulo, as Antonelli got over his collision with Piastri and Leclerc to finish second, while Russell came home fourth. Antonelli fended off Max Verstappen’s late charge to claim 18 points for the Silver Arrows.

Mercedes now sit 32 points ahead of Red Bull, with Verstappen’s P3 putting the Milton Keynes outfit four points clear of Ferrari. The Maranello outfit will want to forget the Brazilian Grand Prix and find improvements in the final three races.

Leclerc was ‘not happy’ with a downshift problem that cost him during Sprint qualifying. Ferrari generally lacked pace in Sao Paulo, and they now have a mountain to climb to beat Red Bull and Mercedes.