Ferrari investigation suggests Charles Leclerc was wrong about his Monaco Grand Prix crash

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Charles Leclerc blamed Ferrari’s Brembo brakes for his crash at the Monaco Grand Prix, but the team’s investigation shows that there was actually nothing wrong with them.

After Lance Stroll found the barriers on lap 60, the Monegasque driver crashed in the same place at the final corner as the safety car pulled into the pits. After the race and on the radio, Leclerc blasted Ferrari’s brakes, saying that he had no feeling or temperature in them.

Brembo later criticised Leclerc for his comments, describing them as premature, as the exact cause of the issue was unknown. Now, after an analysis, it seems that the Ferrari driver’s judgment was wrong.

Ferrari’s investigation into Charles Leclerc’s Monaco GP crash showed there was no failure with the brakes

The track surface at the Monaco Grand Prix was certainly a factor, as the tarmac was breaking up significantly at the final turn. Sergio Perez warned the FIA about the problem all race long, and it caught both Stroll and Leclerc out.

But the Ferrari star was adamant that the Brembo brakes were the issue. However, as per a report from The Race, an ‘early analysis’ of his car shows there to be ‘nothing obviously broken on the car nor with the brakes.’

Leclerc had complained about the brakes and the rear tyres being cold on the restart, which is actually a consequence of the 2026 F1 regulations. Braking characteristics have changed significantly due to the need to harvest and manage energy in the new cars.

‘The rear brake discs aren’t being used anywhere near as much as they used to be’ due to harvesting, and with the cars being lighter and slower, energy levels in the brakes are ‘20% less than before’, and they can easily fall out of the operating window.

Leclerc’s crash was not down to a brake failure, but rather he could not get the brake discs to the right operating temperature at the safety car restart.

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Charles Leclerc’s driving style and Ferrari’s 2026 design choices may have also caused his Monaco GP crash

Another reason for the accident may lie with Leclerc himself. After all, he was the only driver to have this issue with the Brembo brakes in Monaco, with five other teams besides Ferrari also using them.

Leclerc complained about the brakes in Canada, stating that he could not find consistency from them in the cold temperatures. It was the same story in Monaco.

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However, as no other team had this issue, it likely points towards his driving style. Hamilton has changed his approach at Ferrari, while Leclerc does not ‘stamp on the brake pedal for an initial bite’ as his teammate does.

Ferrari’s design choices for the SF-26 could also be a factor for the brakes not reaching the right temperature compared to other teams. What is clear, however, is that Leclerc’s crash was not due to brake failure or there being anything wrong with them.