Leclerc rows back from 'harsh' criticism of Antonelli's driving

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc has walked back his fiery criticism of rising Formula 1 star Kimi Antonelli, which erupted over the radio during the Miami Grand Prix sprint race. Leclerc, who finished third, had audibly expressed frustration with Antonelli's aggressive wheel-to-wheel racing, stating, "Kimi is so bad on wheel-to-wheel (racing). He moved under braking. It's unbelievable. We are going to crash."

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Kimi is so bad on wheel-to-wheel (racing). He moved under braking. It's unbelievable. We are going to crash.

Speaking after the race, Leclerc tempered his remarks, attributing them to the adrenaline of the competition. "I was being a bit harsh maybe with the adrenaline inside the car," he conceded. He acknowledged past incidents with Antonelli and expressed hope for a calmer dynamic moving forward, particularly given Antonelli's status as the sole Italian on the grid and a favorite of the Tifosi.

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I was being a bit harsh maybe with the adrenaline inside the car.

Antonelli, who holds the record as the youngest F1 championship leader and is the first Italian to achieve back-to-back wins since Alberto Ascari in 1953, had a challenging sprint race. He dropped from second to fourth after a poor start and struggled with grip, ultimately receiving a five-second penalty for exceeding track limits, which demoted him to sixth. Antonelli admitted his frustration led to mistakes and a need to focus on avoiding track limit violations in the future.

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It's true that we've had our moments with Kimi in the past and I hope this calms down a little bit going ahead. Especially as he's the only Italian on the grid against Ferrari.

This incident highlights the intense pressure and high stakes in Formula 1, especially for a young Italian driver carrying the hopes of a nation. While Leclerc's initial outburst was understandable in the heat of battle, his subsequent apology reflects a broader understanding of the scrutiny Antonelli faces. From an Italian perspective, Antonelli's success is a source of immense pride, and any perceived threat to his progress, even from a fellow Italian like Leclerc, is keenly felt.

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I really like Kimi as a person.