The incident between Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris at the end of FP3. Who is to blame?
Scuderia Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc explained the awkward incident with Lando Norris from the last practice session in Barcelona.
The third practice session in Barcelona saw two very strange incidents. The first was between Lance Stroll and Lewis Hamilton. The Canadian driver was first impeded by the seven-time World Champion going into hairpin turn number 5.
However, then he went wide on the exit and collided with the Mercedes driver (who was trying to apologize) on the outside curb.
The second incident we've seen took place right after slight turn number six. Lando Norris, who aborted his flying lap after turn number 5, left space for Charles Leclerc right behind, but for some reason, the Ferrari driver went so close to the 24-year-old that they collided.
Speaking to the media following the qualifying session (won by Norris), where he finished in P5, the Monegasque driver explained what happened in FP3:
"Lando was exiting the pit lane, and I was behind on a push lap. Then, when he aborted, I also aborted. I braked to be alongside him. I misjudged it."
"I was on the right [side of the track], and I didn't want to impede the cars behind, so I was a bit in the middle of being frustrated and looking in the mirror, trying not to impede. Then we collided, but it was more of a misunderstanding."
"You are always frustrated when you do that, but you never want to touch. That's the last thing you want to do, to damage your car with qualifying right after. It's never the goal."
Leclerc was summoned to stewards following the incident and was given a reprimand for his actions. The statement from the FIA read:
"Irrespective of any possible intent, the Stewards consider the move made by Car 16, whilst not being dangerous, to be erratic and therefore issue a driving reprimand in line with precedents."
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