An angry Charles Leclerc blasted himself for a mistake on the final lap of the Turkish GP that cost the Ferrari driver a spot on the podium.
Leclerc was set for a top-three finish in Sunday's wet race after a brilliant drive from 12th on the grid. But a move on second-placed man Sergio Perez at Istanbul Park's Turn 12 on the final lap ruined his chances.
Leclerc's charge up the order really came to life when the Monegasque switched to his second set of intermediate tyres.
From third, the Scuderia driver snatched second when Perez made a mistake on the final lap. But as the pair approached Turn 12, Leclerc locked up which allowed Perez and teammate Sebastian Vettel to sneak by, leaving their rival with the short end of the straw.
"I did a **** job. I am so sorry to the whole team, I am ****** stupid," quipped a dejected Leclerc on the radio when all was said and done.
So disapointed with myself today. We were extremely quick but my last lap mistake is what cost us the 2nd place.
On the other hand, happy for Seb, it's been a very difficult season overall and he deserves the podium so much.— Charles Leclerc (@Charles_Leclerc) November 15, 2020
"Unfortunately, in the last corner, nothing to say, in the last three corners," he later said when addressing the media.
"In the end, the end result counts. I was good for one part of the race but **** when it matters and that’s it. Fourth. I’m so disappointed.”
"Now that I’ve calmed down, congratulations to Seb – he deserves it. It’s not been a good year for him. Even if I’m so ****** off with myself, he’s done a great job and I hope he will enjoy it."
While Leclerc overhauled Renault's Daniel Ricciardo in the Drivers' championship, the two-time Grand Prix winner remains fifth in the standings with 97 points.
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