F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Ouch! Leclerc crashes classic Lauda Ferrari in Monaco

In a bid to get his storied bad luck at Monaco out of the way before the Principality's Grand Prix in two weeks, Charles Leclerc crashed through no fault of his own an ex-Niki Lauda 312B3 during a demo run in Sunday's Historic Grand Prix.

The Monegasque was out on track onboard the machine raced by Lauda in 1974, pleasing the fans and himself during a pause in the historic event's schedule, when he came into the Rascasse hairpin a bit too hot, the victim of a sudden brake failure on the 312B3.

The Ferrari lost its rear grip and spun backwards into the guard rail, crimpling its rear wing.

It was an awkward moment for Leclerc, but the local hero said the embarrassing contre-temps was unavoidable because he had simply run out of brakes!

"When you thought you already had all the bad luck of the world in Monaco and you lose the brakes into rascasse with one of the most iconic historical Ferrari Formula 1 car. 🙃🔫," Leclerc tweeted.

"I lost the brakes," he later explained. "I braked, the pedal was hard, and it went to the floor.

"I was lucky to have it at that moment, because if I had had it at another place, it wouldn't have been good… the problem is that I got scared. I arrived normally in the corner."

At the time of the mishap, he Ferrari charger was sharing the track with fellow Scuderia legend Jacky Ickx who fortunately made it around safe and sound at the wheel of his superb period 1972 312B2.

And the great Belgian was on hand to console Leclerc who will be avoiding black cats and walking under ladders until his return to Monaco's track in two weeks for the real thing.

©ACM_Peyret_Demard

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Michael Delaney

Recent Posts

A final farewell to motorsport’s single Triple Crown winner

On this day in 1975, a somber mood enveloped St Albans Abbey in Hertfordshire as…

16 mins ago

Russell on McLaren’s team-order talk: ‘Not acceptable of fair’

As Abu Dhabi prepares to crown a world champion, McLaren has finally cracked the door…

1 hour ago

Abu Dhabi GP: Norris edges Verstappen in opening practice

Lando Norris opened the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend in commanding fashion, topping the…

2 hours ago

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Free Practice 1 - Results

Full results from Free Practice 1 for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina,…

2 hours ago

F1 drivers squeeze in tradition before Abu Dhabi epic

On the eve of Formula 1’s thrilling 2025 title decider in Abu Dhabi, the entire…

3 hours ago

Hamilton won't miss current F1 cars - but fears 2026 'might be worse'

As Formula 1 prepares to wave goodbye to its current rule set in Abu Dhabi,…

4 hours ago