Charles Leclerc Opens Up After Unexpected Max Verstappen Collision

Charles Leclerc has addressed the dramatic contact with Max Verstappen during the closing stages of the Spanish Grand Prix. The incident came after Kimi Antonelli caused a safety car when his car ended up in the gravel on a late lap, pushing the race leaders into a tense restart.

Verstappen, having pitted for a new set of hard compound tires, struggled for grip out of the final corner. This allowed Leclerc to get alongside as both drivers sprinted towards Turn 1 in Barcelona.

As they battled for position, Verstappen’s front tire touched Leclerc’s car. Leclerc commented that both drivers played a role in the clash, describing it as a typical fight for track space.

“It was a battle for track position to get the slipstream,” Leclerc said after the race. “Max tried to bring me towards the inside where there’s more rubber. I didn’t want to go too much there, so I pushed him to the left. There was a bit of contact, but nothing happened in the end.”

The contact had no serious consequences, letting both drivers continue their charge without penalty or damage. Leclerc managed to finish the race in third, securing his third podium finish of the 2025 Formula 1 season.

He explained that his result was helped by strategic choices made in qualifying, where he compromised his starting position to better preserve his race tires. “I sacrificed a bit in qualifying to have fresher tyres for today. I didn’t know if it would work out, but in the end, it did pay off,” Leclerc said.

Under normal circumstances, Leclerc believed a fourth place finish was the likely outcome. Instead, the safety car shuffle allowed him to capitalize and claim a valuable podium.

After this round, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri leads the drivers’ championship with 186 points, followed by his teammate Lando Norris at 176 points. Verstappen is now third on 137 points, while Leclerc sits in fifth place with 94 points, just behind George Russell.

Ferrari trails McLaren in the team standings, with McLaren at 362 points and Ferrari at 165 points. Race stewards reviewed the contact between Verstappen and Leclerc but did not issue any penalties.

Both drivers were able to discuss the move afterward without escalating tensions. Verstappen later received a penalty for a separate incident involving George Russell, but the restart battle with Leclerc ended without any further action.

Leclerc was satisfied with his drive and the outcome, noting the unpredictable nature of Formula 1 and the importance of taking opportunities when they arise. The next race on the F1 calendar is in Canada, where teams will look to build on their recent results and fight for every point in the tight championship race.