Leclerc to "choose the fights better" after first-lap clash in F1 Sakhir GP
Ferrari Formula 1 driver Charles Leclerc says he will "choose the fights better" after his first-lap accident in last weekend's Sakhir Grand Prix earned him a three-place grid penalty
Leclerc initially hit Sergio Perez in Bahrain - contact that forced Max Verstappen to go off-track in avoidance, losing grip in a gravel trap and sliding into the barriers.
Leclerc also retired from the race, while Racing Point driver Perez was able to continue and eventually win.
PLUS: The unseen mistake that nearly cost Perez victory in Russell's race
Leclerc has been involved in several other first-lap incidents this year, including one with team-mate Sebastian Vettel in the Styrian GP, and another with Racing Point driver Lance Stroll in Sochi.
Leclerc accepts the punishment for last weekend's incident, but pointed out his first-lap charges have often been fruitful this year.
"I think I didn't give much choice to the stewards basically," he said. "Because by not finishing the race, then well, I think I had to get a penalty somehow. And the only thing that was possible for them was to penalise me for the next race.
"It's the way it is. And it's like this, I think I've gained a lot in some of the races in the first lap, which helped me to gain a lot of points this year.
"And it happens that sometimes it just doesn't go my way, which it didn't last weekend. And it didn't in Austria at the beginning of the year.
"But at the end, I've also gained a lot of points with that.
"I'll try to choose the fights better, because obviously gaining a position to Max was not going to bring us anywhere in a better position, because Max was quicker than us.
"But anyway, it's the past, I'll learn from it. And that's it."
Verstappen said he didn't want to talk to Leclerc about last weekend's incident.
"I'm not interested at all," said the Red Bull driver.
"I just want to do the race here and then go home. It's what it is.
"So no point trying to just have a kind of a bitch fight, and keep going on, talking to each other.
"It doesn't matter - we both retired, and it's what it is."
Verstappen admitted that he didn't realise that there was a gravel trap behind the run-off when he ran wide while trying to avoid the spinning Perez.
"I didn't see the gravel, but I couldn't have done anything else, because if I would have just tried to brake more and try to wait for Checo to stop spinning, basically I would have probably got hit by Charles, because his wheel was hanging off," added Verstappen.
"So there was nowhere to go, and it was just super unlucky that it was a bit of gravel, and that's why you just understeer into the wall."
Mercedes launches Accelerate 25 diversity initiative
Russell: Mercedes only able to make "minor" tweaks to help me fit in its F1 car
Why Red Bull’s RB17 hypercar can help its F1 team
On Tuesday, Red Bull laid out its plans to develop and build a new hypercar - the RB17 - penned by Adrian Newey. As the project itself sates Newey as a creative outlet, it also offers Red Bull's Formula 1 team a number of new and exciting avenues to pursue
What to expect from Mercedes as F1 returns to Silverstone
OPINION: The British Grand Prix is a home event for Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, with their Mercedes team based just a few miles away too. But there’s another reason why the Silver Arrows squad is eager to arrive at Silverstone this weekend, which may help it fix its remaining problems with its 2022 Formula 1 challenger
The “solemn promise” that cost quiet hero Brooks an F1 title
After two terrifying crashes, one of the best British racers of the 1950s retired before his career peaked. But that’s why GP Racing’s MAURICE HAMILTON was able to speak to Tony Brooks in 2014. Like his friend Stirling Moss, Brooks was regarded as one of the best drivers never to have won the world championship. Here, as our tribute to Brooks who died last month, is that interview in full
Inside the Faenza facility where AlphaTauri’s F1 pragmatic vision is realised
AlphaTauri’s mission in F1 is to sell clothes and train young drivers rather than win the championship – but you still need a cutting-edge factory to do that. Team boss Franz Tost takes GP Racing’s OLEG KARPOV on a guided tour of a facility that’s continuing to grow
Connecting two of Ferrari's favourite F1 sons
Gilles Villeneuve's exploits behind the wheel of a Ferrari made him a legend to the tifosi, even 40 years after his death. The team's current Formula 1 star Charles Leclerc enjoys a similar status, and recently got behind the wheel of a very special car from the French-Canadian’s career
How a 30cm metal wire triggered open warfare in the F1 paddock
Porpoising has become the key talking point during the 2022 Formula 1 season, as teams battle to come to terms with it. An FIA technical directive ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix and a second stay appearing on the Mercedes cars only served to create a bigger debate and raise tensions further
Does Verstappen have any weaknesses left?
Having extended his Formula 1 points lead with victory in Canada, Max Verstappen has raised his game further following his 2021 title triumph. Even on the days where Red Bull appears to be second best to Ferrari, Verstappen is getting the most out of the car in each race. So, does he have any weaknesses that his title rivals can exploit?
How F1's future fuels can shape the automotive sector
In 2026, Formula 1 plans to make the switch to a fully sustainable fuel, as the greater automotive world considers its own alternative propulsion methods. Biogasoline and e-fuels both have merit as 'drop-in' fuels but, equally, both have their shortcomings...