Charles Leclerc has revealed that a suspected brake failure was behind his dramatic retirement from the Monaco Grand Prix, with the Ferrari driver insisting he should not be blamed for the incident that ended his home race and triggered a lengthy red-flag stoppage.
The Monegasque driver crashed out from a podium position with just 12 laps remaining after losing control under braking.
Speaking to French broadcaster Canal+, Leclerc made clear that he believes a technical issue on his Ferrari was responsible, describing the recurring brake concerns he has experienced in recent races as “unacceptable.”
Leclerc rejects responsibility for Monaco retirement
Leclerc’s frustration was evident immediately after the accident. Team radio messages captured the Ferrari driver venting his anger before he returned to the pits, where he held an animated discussion with team personnel.
Reflecting on the incident afterwards, Leclerc was adamant that the crash was not caused by driver error: “Honestly, I don’t see why I should take the blame for this. These damn brakes!”
The Ferrari driver later expanded on the issue during interviews with French media saying “The brake problems I’ve had over the last few weekends are unacceptable.”
“It was impossible to maintain control.”
According to Leclerc, the rear brakes failed completely as he approached the corner, leaving him unable to control the car.
He also revealed that concerns had already emerged before the race resumed following an earlier neutralisation period.
Ferrari investigating suspected brake failure
The incident has immediately raised fresh questions for Ferrari, particularly after Leclerc stated that the team data already points towards a mechanical problem.
While some observers initially suspected the deteriorating track surface may have contributed to the accident, Leclerc dismissed that explanation: “No, it seems that wasn’t the problem. I just received confirmation that the data indicates a brake issue.”
Ferrari deputy team principal Jerome d’Ambrosio confirmed the team will conduct a detailed investigation once the cars return to Maranello: “We now need to go back to the factory and look at this in detail.”
D’Ambrosio also suggested Ferrari could consider changes to Leclerc’s preferred brake setup if necessary.
“It is important for both drivers to be happy with their brake setups. We are flexible enough to do so.”
The latest setback comes at an awkward time for Ferrari, which had shown competitive pace throughout the Monaco weekend and looked capable of securing a double podium finish.
Crumbling Monaco asphalt sparks controversy
Leclerc’s crash occurred at the same section of circuit where Lance Stroll had retired only moments earlier, leading some to question whether the recently resurfaced asphalt had played a role. The impact of Leclerc’s accident proved significant.
Race control first deployed the Safety Car before eventually suspending the race with a red flag as marshals attempted to repair damage to the track surface beyond Rascasse. Sweepers and track workers spent an extended period clearing loose asphalt before racing could resume.
Former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher criticised the situation during Sky Germany’s live coverage saying, “That’s not Formula 1-like, when the asphalt comes loose there.”
However, despite the visible deterioration of the circuit, Leclerc remained convinced that the root cause lay within his Ferrari rather than the Monaco streets.
Antonelli capitalises as Ferrari loses valuable points
Leclerc’s retirement proved costly in the context of Ferrari’s weekend. While the Monegasque driver failed to finish, teammate Lewis Hamilton recovered to secure second place behind Mercedes star Kimi Antonelli.
Antonelli delivered another standout performance, becoming the youngest Monaco Grand Prix winner in Formula 1 history at 19 years and 286 days old. The Italian also claimed his fifth consecutive victory, extending his championship advantage after six rounds of the 2026 season.
Leclerc’s retirement was particularly frustrating given his strong position before the accident. Running third and looking set for a valuable podium finish, the Ferrari driver instead left Monaco empty-handed.
The result also continues a concerning trend for Ferrari, with reliability and braking concerns now becoming a recurring talking point. As previously reported by TJ13 regarding Ferrari’s ongoing efforts to improve operational consistency in 2026, the team’s response to this latest technical issue could prove crucial if it hopes to remain in contention against Mercedes and McLaren over the remainder of the season.
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Craig.J. Alderson is Senior Editor at TJ13, where Craig oversees newsroom operations and coordinates editorial output across the site. With a background in online sports reporting and motorsport magazine editing, he plays a key role in maintaining consistency, speed, and accuracy in TJ13’s coverage.
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