Charles Leclerc’s Dutch Grand Prix ended in bitter disappointment on lap 53 of 72, when contact with Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli sent the Ferrari driver into the barriers and out of the race at Zandvoort’s Turn 3.
While Antonelli limped back with a puncture and a 10-second penalty, Leclerc was left stranded trackside, reflecting on what might have been.
The incident occurred when Antonelli made an aggressive bid to overtake at the tricky banked corner, but it backfired spectacularly. The contact sent Leclerc’s Ferrari spinning into the barriers, ending his race in an instant.
“It is a mistake from Kimi,” Leclerc told the media after the race, his frustration evident but measured.
“You have to be aggressive on a track like this to overtake. He tried to be aggressive and it was too much. He touched my rear left, it was the end of my race.
“I wouldn’t describe it as a rookie mistake, it was just a mistake that could happen in the first year or the fifth year.”
Leclerc’s comments cut through the post-race buzz, refusing to pin the blame solely on Antonelli’s inexperience. Instead, he chalked it up to the high-stakes nature of racing at Zandvoort, where bold moves can lead to reward – or disaster.
Pit Stop Frustrations, But Strategy Not to Blame
Earlier in the race, Leclerc had expressed his irritation over a pit stop call. Some speculated Ferrari’s often-scrutinized strategy was at fault, but Leclerc was quick to shut down that narrative.
“The tyres weren’t too bad but judging by the out-lap of Kimi, it was strong,” he explained. “The team decided to pit me because they thought he would probably get past us.
“I was frustrated for what happened but the strategy isn’t a talking point today. It was Kimi’s mistake which threw the efforts we had into the bin.”
For Leclerc, the real sting came from seeing Ferrari’s hard-fought efforts go up in smoke, courtesy of Antonelli’s misjudged maneuver. The crash wasn’t just a personal blow – it left Ferrari pointless at Zandvoort, with teammate Lewis Hamilton also crashing out from seventh, and suffering his first DNF in Ferrari red.
Another Clash, Another Stewards’ Summons
The Lap 53 incident wasn’t Leclerc’s only brush with drama. Earlier, on Lap 32, he tangled with Mercedes’ George Russell at Turn 10, braking late to swing around the outside in a daring move.
The two touched, and Leclerc’s wheels crossed the white line, earning him a post-race trip to the FIA stewards, the outcome of which had yet to be announced.
“It was aggressive but we are fighting for a place in the championship,” Leclerc said, defending his approach. “For the constructors’. For the drivers’, I don’t really care.
“I will always be aggressive. It was on the limit. I knew I wouldn’t have many chances. He defended the inside, I went for the outside. He didn’t expect me to go for the outside.
“He did the corner as if I wasn’t there. We touched. I don’t know what the stewards are looking at.”
A Weekend to Forget for Ferrari
Ferrari’s Dutch Grand Prix was, in Leclerc’s own words, a disaster.
“We can see positives in every situation but I’d rather look at it as a very, very disappointing weekend,” he said. “We struggled from FP1 to quali, the race was better.
“Especially after the holidays, to have a Friday like that? We cannot afford to have another Friday like that because it definitely has an influence for the rest of the weekend.”
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With no points to show for their efforts, Ferrari now turns its sights to a crucial home race at Monza for the Italian Grand Prix. It’s a chance to reset, especially for Hamilton, who’ll race at the iconic circuit in Ferrari colors for the first time.
“I am looking forward to it, there is a lot of positive energy starting from Tuesday in Milan,” concluded the Monegasque.
“We always have a lot of support. I think [Zandvoort] has everything that our car hates, so Monza is more positive. Whether it’s a track where we can target a win, I don’t think so.”
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