Severe crash for Leclerc: key health update and news on damage to his Ferrari

Leclerc crashed as early as the second lap of last Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix. Entering the Parabolica, he lost control of his SF-26 and slammed into the tire barriers at high speed. The race was then red-flagged to repair the damaged barrier.

The Monegasque was able to climb out of his Ferrari on his own and was subsequently examined at the medical center. No injuries were found there, although Leclerc told, among others, GPblog afterwards that his vision was reduced shortly after the crash. In particular, he initially saw less well with his right eye. Those symptoms had disappeared later in the evening, but it was clear he still needed further checks ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid.

After the race, Leclerc kept a small caveat regarding his participation in the Spanish Grand Prix. "First of all, I think I will still have to undergo quite a few extra checks. We will probably need to do those on Sunday evening or Monday to make sure I’m fully fit for Madrid,” he said.

Those additional checks revealed no issues. GPblog had already reported that Leclerc has been cleared as fit to race in Madrid this coming weekend. Even a few days later, on the Thursday before the F1 weekend at the new circuit, the Ferrari driver is still feeling good, this site has understood.

It wasn’t just Leclerc’s physical condition that raised questions after the heavy impact. Ferrari also had to determine how much damage the SF-26 sustained in the crash. In particular, the condition of the engine and gearbox was important with a view to the race weekend in Madrid.

GPblog has learned that the consequences on that front are limited. Due to the Monza crash, Leclerc will not have to use new engine parts or gearbox components that would earn him a grid penalty. That means Ferrari can start the Formula 1 weekend in Madrid without a crash-related grid penalty for the Monegasque.

Meanwhile, the cause of the accident was investigated further. After the race, Leclerc said he had felt a difference in the power delivery of his Ferrari between the first and second laps. He did not want to draw conclusions about that immediately after the crash.

"I think from lap one to lap two I noticed a small difference in power delivery. We’re going to investigate it, but I don’t want to say too much before we’ve looked at the data and can confirm it,” Leclerc said at the time.

For Ferrari, the news means that Leclerc can start the first Grand Prix weekend at the new circuit in Madrid without repercussions from his crash. The first practice sessions at the Madring will be held on Friday.