Italian Grand Prix Halted After Leclerc Crashes Out

The Italian Formula One Grand Prix turned into a nightmare for Ferrari when Charles Leclerc crashed heavily at Monza’s Parabolica at the end of the second lap. Ferrari said the Monegasque driver was safe after he visited the circuit’s medical center.

Leclerc got out of the car and sat hunched on the grass behind the barriers immediately after the crash. The field waited about 30 minutes while the tire wall was rebuilt, then lined up again with Mercedes’ George Russell in the lead.

Leclerc had started third, with Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton alongside in fourth. Hamilton tried to pass on the inside at the first corner, but the seven-time world champion was forced wide into the gravel and fell to 11th. “Charles pushed me off,” Hamilton complained over the team radio. Stewards noted the incident.

Television replays showed Leclerc in fourth place and under pressure from McLaren’s Oscar Piastri when he appeared to suffer wheelspin. His car touched the white line at the track edge and veered off at speed. The safety car came out, followed by red flags on lap four.

The initial restart also had to be abandoned after Racing Bulls stand-in driver Yuki Tsunoda took the wrong position on the grid. The race was being held before a record crowd at Monza.

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Charles pushed me off