Leclerc livid after last lap 's*** job' ruins podium finish

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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.

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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.

"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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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.