Lewis Hamilton and George Russell discussed Charles Leclerc’s French Grand Prix crash backstage moments after the checkered flag. The Mercedes duo were seen in the cooling room in front of the podium talking about the Ferrari star’s huge derivation.
British drivers watched a replay of Leclerc’s turn 11 crash on television before the podium celebrations. Hamilton said, “He’s got it wrong, huh?”
A representative for Red Bull, who won the race courtesy of Max Verstappen, replied: “No. Throttle lock.” Puzzled, Russell added, “Throttle lock?”
The Red Bull representative added: “Yeah. That’s what he said on the radio.” Russell continued: “What, he gave him the throttle back.”
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Leclerc lost control of his Ferrari while under pressure to pull a gap from Verstappen’s Red Bull. The Dutchman had just pitted for hard tyres, but Ferrari had opted to keep Leclerc out of the old means.
This tactic would probably have given Leclerc a tire advantage towards the end of the race. However, the Monegasque dropped a wheel on the white lines which sent the Ferrari spinning.
He made contact with the tire barrier and appeared to suggest over the team radio that it was due to a throttle problem. But, he cleared up the confusion after the race, admitting that the crash was simply pilot error.
He explained: “I think it’s just a mistake. I tried to take too much on the outside, put a wheel probably somewhere dirty, but it’s my fault and if I keep making mistakes like this, I deserve not to win the championship.
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“I’m losing too many points, I think seven in Imola, 25 here because, honestly, we were the strongest car on the track today. So yes, if we lose the championship by 32 points at the end of the season, I will know where they are coming from. And it’s unacceptable, I just need to get on top of these things.
“I was thinking too much and I lost the rear. It’s been a very difficult weekend for me.” Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto also said the crash was down to human error and it had nothing to do with mechanical failure.
He revealed that Leclerc’s reference to a throttle problem on the radio was related to his futile attempts to get the car out of the barrier and continue the race.