Charles Leclerc had an uncomfortable weekend in Miami, as he suffered a crash in FP2 and qualifying, bringing both sessions to a halt with red flags.
The crashes both occurred at Turn 7, with Leclerc’s first incident seeing him damage the front of his car and the second moment seeing him ram the rear of the vehicle into the barrier.
The tough outing left Leclerc qualifying in P6 and finishing the Grand Prix in P7 during an event that he will be keen to forget.
Ferrari’s inability to challenge both Mercedes drivers during the weekend meant the Italian team was unable to reduce the gap to the Silver Arrows in the Constructors’ race.
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After Leclerc’s challenges around the Miami International Autodrome and with questions swirling over his future, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has given a brutal assessment of the Monegasque’s ability behind the wheel.
“To put it sarcastically: ‘You can’t drive out behind Leclerc,” Marko said after Leclerc’s qualifying crash hurt Max Verstappen’s flying lap.
“It was extremely unfortunate for Max.
“He went a little far in the first run and then we should have come out of the pits earlier. We would have had the speed.
“At least the first two rows would have been safe. But it’s a learning phase. We wanted to concentrate completely on the last run and get the best out of it.”
Marko is known for his honest and outspoken approach, which has sometimes caused controversy, especially when discussing the rivalry between Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.
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Given Leclerc is believed to be open to a move away from Ferrari when his contract expires next season, Marko’s mockery might leave the Monegasque less interested in jumping into a Red Bull.
Mercedes and Leclerc have been linked in recent media reports despite both sides claiming no contract talks are ongoing.
As Leclerc approaches the end of his contract next season, rumours of a move away from Ferrari are only likely to grow, especially if the Italian team cannot find a route back to winning way.