Charles Leclerc admitted his high-speed clash with Oscar Piastri at the Belgian Grand Prix was “too close” for comfort after the Ferrari driver escaped a potentially serious accident and went on to secure a podium finish at Spa-Francorchamps.
Highlights
- Leclerc and Piastri made contact during the Belgian Grand Prix.
- The incident happened at high speed at Les Combes on lap eight.
- Both drivers avoided crashing despite debris flying from the collision.
- Leclerc eventually finished second behind Kimi Antonelli.
- The Ferrari driver described the race as a positive surprise for his team.
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A Heart-Stopping Moment at Spa
Charles Leclerc’s Belgian Grand Prix nearly took a disastrous turn when he collided with Oscar Piastri during a tense battle at Spa-Francorchamps.
The incident occurred on lap eight as Piastri attempted to overtake Leclerc around the outside of the fast Les Combes corner. The two cars made contact at high speed, sending debris flying and briefly raising fears of a major crash.
Fortunately, both drivers managed to keep control of their cars and continued the race without suffering race-ending damage.
Leclerc Reflects on the Incident
Speaking after the race, Leclerc admitted the moment was far more dangerous than he would have liked.
The Ferrari star described the clash as “too close,” acknowledging that the outcome could have been much worse given the speed at which the contact happened.
A Strong Recovery for Ferrari
Despite the scare, Leclerc delivered an impressive performance in Belgium. Starting from fourth on the grid, he surged into second place on the opening lap before being overtaken by Max Verstappen.
Ferrari’s strategy then briefly put Leclerc in the lead after a well-timed pit stop under the Virtual Safety Car.
However, he was unable to hold off Kimi Antonelli, who eventually passed him and claimed victory, leaving Leclerc to settle for second place.
Leclerc revealed that Ferrari had expected to struggle much more at Spa, believing they could be several tenths behind their rivals.
Instead, the team found itself far more competitive in race conditions than anticipated, giving the Monegasque driver optimism for the upcoming races.
Leclerc may have left Spa with a podium, but his “too close” encounter with Piastri served as a reminder of just how fine the margins are in Formula 1.
