Lance Stroll Faces Summons After Shocking Charles Leclerc Crash

Lance Stroll was called to the stewards after a strange incident with Charles Leclerc during the opening practice session at the Monaco Grand Prix. The collision happened early in Free Practice 1 on May 23, as both drivers approached the famous Monaco hairpin.

Leclerc, racing for Ferrari, crashed into the back of Stroll’s Aston Martin after Stroll moved across the track trying to make the corner. At the same moment, Stroll was letting Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli through, and said over the radio that he did not hear his team warning that Leclerc was closing in.

The session was red-flagged soon after the collision. Leclerc’s front wing was left damaged and required a replacement, but he was able to return to the track later and eventually finished the session on top of the leaderboard.

For Stroll, the outcome was more damaging. Aston Martin confirmed his car suffered rear suspension damage along with a gearbox issue. These problems ended his session with just a handful of laps completed, and his mechanics were unable to repair the car in time to send him back out.

Stroll was asked to meet the stewards 30 minutes after the session ended, at 3:00 p.m. local time. The officials will review the footage and both drivers’ statements before deciding if any penalties or reprimands are necessary. For more details on F1 stewarding procedures, refer to the FIA’s official regulations.

These meetings are common after on-track incidents at Monaco, which is known for its tight corners and heavy traffic. Despite the early trouble, Charles Leclerc went on to recover well and set the fastest time in Free Practice 1, edging out Max Verstappen and offering a boost to his home fans.

The Monaco Grand Prix is always a highlight of the Formula 1 season, and the 2025 event has drawn particular interest with many drivers and teams close together in the standings. After the first practice, Oscar Piastri leads the championship with 146 points for McLaren, closely followed by Lando Norris on 133 and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen with 124.

George Russell sits in fourth position for Mercedes with 99 points, while Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have 61 and 53 respectively for Ferrari. Teams are pushing hard as McLaren holds a narrow advantage at the top of the Constructors’ standings with 279 points, ahead of Mercedes on 147 and Red Bull with 131.

Ferrari is just behind with 114 and Williams rounds out the top five teams with 51. These close totals reflect a season full of competitive racing and frequent changes at the front. For historical context on Monaco Grand Prix standings, visit Formula 1’s official records.

Elsewhere in Thursday’s news, Red Bull continues to battle technical changes and potential penalties for Verstappen, while George Russell is questioning the pace of some Mercedes rivals.

Sponsorship deals and car upgrades are making headlines as well, adding extra intrigue to the upcoming races. All focus is now on the rest of the Monaco race weekend, with more practice, qualifying, and the Grand Prix itself to come.

The stewards’ decision on the Stroll-Leclerc incident will be watched closely, as it could impact strategies and driver confidence for both Aston Martin and Ferrari going forward. For further insights into F1 race strategies, check out MIT’s Motorsports Analytics research.

James William

James William covers the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, from the Rolex 24 at Daytona to sprint-race formats. His reports include prototype performance reviews, GT class battles, and pit-stop strategy insights for endurance-racing fans.