Leclerc cleared by stewards after Monaco brake failure
Charles Leclerc’s debut at his home race in Monaco ended early with brake failure, crashing into Brendon Hartley’s Toro Rosso at the Nouvelles Chicane on lap 70.
With only eight laps of the race remaining, Hartley and Leclerc were battling for 11th when the Sauber driver hit the back of the Toro Rosso under braking after exiting the tunnel.
Although it had been referred to the stewards, they acknowledged that Leclerc wasn’t at fault and wasn’t given a penalty. Knowing that his brakes had failed, Leclerc went onto the kerb in an attempt to avoid an accident – even clipping the outside barrier – but was unable to avoid contact.
“Unfortunately, there was an issue with my brakes just a few laps before finishing,” explained Leclerc after the race.
“I tried to avoid the car ahead, but there was nothing I could do. It was a tough race, and it is disappointing that I could not finish it.”
The pair had been battling for most of the race. Hartley lost a part of his front wing at the start by hitting the back of the Sauber which reduced the front downforce on his Toro Rosso.
“I had a pretty good start,” Hartley said, “but I damaged my front wing on the first lap at Turn 5 which was annoying.
“It was an uphill battle from there, the tyres quickly faded with lack of front downforce, but we held on and made a big effort to make the Ultrasofts last until the end.
“We pitted really early to make an undercut which was a good strategy, and towards the end of the race I was catching Carlos for P10, but then I got hit from behind by a Sauber.
“Charles and I spoke afterwards and he said he lost the brakes, it’s pretty frustrating, but that’s Monaco.”