Leclerc rows back from 'harsh' criticism of Antonelli's driving
· CNA · JoinRead a summary of this article on FAST.
Get bite-sized news via a new
cards interface. Give it a try.
Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST
FAST
MIAMI, May 2 : Ferrari's Charles Leclerc said he had been harsh on Formula One leader Kimi Antonelli after angrily criticising the Italian teenager in the heat of the Miami Grand Prix sprint race on Saturday.
Antonelli finished fourth for Mercedes but collected a five-second penalty and was demoted to sixth for repeatedly exceeding track limits.
"Kimi is so bad on wheel-to-wheel (racing). He moved under braking. It's unbelievable. We are going to crash," Leclerc, who finished third, exclaimed over the radio at one point.
Speaking later, the Monegasque toned down his comments.
CNA Games
Guess Word
Crack the word, one row at a time
Buzzword
Create words using the given letters
Mini Sudoku
Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser
Mini Crossword
Small grid, big challenge
Word Search
Spot as many words as you can
Show More
Show Less
"I was being a bit harsh maybe with the adrenaline inside the car," he said.
"It's true that we've had our moments with Kimi in the past and I hope this calms down a little bit going ahead. Especially as he's the only Italian on the grid against Ferrari.
"I wish it was with someone else. I really like Kimi as a person," added Leclerc. "It's just sometimes a little bit too close for comfort and not really needed as well. So in this particular case, I was quite angry in the car. But the comments were probably a bit too harsh."
Antonelli is the youngest championship leader in Formula One history and also the first Italian to win two races in a row since Alberto Ascari in 1953, an achievement that has ramped up expectations in Italy where Ferrari are also idolised.
The Italian made a poor start on Saturday, dropping from second to fourth, and struggled with low grip.
“After that, I was really frustrated and didn’t even drive well. I did a lot of mistakes and got track limits, which is something I need to avoid," he said.
“This weekend has been more difficult but it was expected with everyone bringing big upgrades. We just need to maximise the result and now focus on qualifying.”
Newsletter
Recommended Read
Subscribe to CNA's Recommended Read
A single handpicked story that we think you shouldn't miss. Just one a day.
Sign up for our newsletters
Get our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inbox
Get the CNA app
Stay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best stories
Get WhatsApp alerts
Join our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat app