Charles Leclerc cites brake failure after crash at Monaco Grand Prix

Charles Leclerc retired from the Monaco Grand Prix on lap 64/66 after a safety‑car restart when three of the four brakes on his Ferrari failed. He said only the front‑left brake worked normally, the front‑right operated at reduced efficiency and both rear brakes produced no deceleration, making the car impossible to control on the tight street circuit. Leclerc immediately told the team over the radio that he would not accept blame and later described the incident as a “nightmare”. He also criticised the team’s pit‑stop strategy that forced him to pit behind teammate Lewis Hamilton, who was serving a five‑second penalty, which added to his frustration.

Ferrari’s technical staff, including Team Principal Fred Vasseur and Deputy Team Principal Jérôme d’Ambrosio, examined the telemetry and agreed with Leclerc’s diagnosis. The team announced that a solution has been identified and that Leclerc will adopt the brake‑configuration used by Hamilton from the next race in Barcelona. The brake issue has been linked to possible wear on the demanding Monaco circuit, and the manufacturer Brembo has issued a statement saying investigations are ongoing.

Leclerc entered the weekend as a podium favourite, topping practice sessions and qualifying fourth, but the brake failure ended his hopes of a home podium.