Italian GP red-flagged as Leclerc suffers heavy crash

The passionate Tifosi at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza were brought to a stunned silence early on Sunday as Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc suffered a race-ending crash at the conclusion of the opening lap of the Italian Grand Prix.

Starting from fourth on the grid, Leclerc spent the first lap first fending off Lewis Hamilton at the first chicane and then fighting hard in the lead pack as the field roared through Monza’s high-speed sector three.

However, heart-stopping drama unfolded at Turn 11 – the sweeping, high-speed Parabolica curve. As Leclerc carried immense speed through the long right-hander to set up a draft down the main straight, his Ferrari suddenly snapped out of control on the exit.

The car speared sideways across the asphalt, skip-sliding through the outer gravel trap before slamming heavily sideways into the tire wall. The impact tore away the front wing and severely damaged the left-side suspension, bringing the Monegasque driver's race to a sudden end before he could even register a second full lap.

Dust and carbon debris showered the track, prompting race officials to immediately deploy a Safety Car before eventually throwing a Red Flag to repair the damaged safety barriers.

To the relief of the packed grandstands, Leclerc quickly reported over the team radio that he was unhurt before climbing out of the cockpit under his own power.

The early exit marks a devastating blow for both driver and team, who had entered their home race weekend high on optimism following an engine upgrade introduced for Monza.

The Scuderia’s hopes now rest on Hamilton for the remainder of the afternoon.

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