Leclerc slams 'dangerous' drag strip tarmac after German GP crash

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Charles Leclerc was highly critical of the drag strip tarmac which led to several crashes, including his own, at the German GP.

The Monegasque was bringing himself into podium contention after a good start in the wet conditions and a good call to pit for fresh intermediates during an early Virtual Safety Car.

When it was time to switch to slicks, however, the Ferrari driver pitted during another VSC and as the race resumed, slid off at the final corners with no chance of stopping the car before the barrier.

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“It was very slippery,” he told RaceFans. “The only thing I can say is I think it’s unacceptable to have this type of tarmac exit out of the two last corners there.

“It’s like a dragster track and once you go on it, it’s just very, very dangerous.

“So my mistake was not huge but the fact that going on this tarmac I had absolutely no control over the car.”

Because of the different surface, all the water was sat on top and not draining away with Lewis Hamilton, Carlos Sainz, Nico Hulkenberg and Kimi Raikkonen also narrowly avoided disaster, or not in the case of Hulkenberg.

Still, in a race which showed promise for Ferrari, Leclerc was frustrated to end it in such circumstances.

“This is in no way an excuse to the mistake,” he added. “I take full responsibility for it but I believe that this type of tarmac should not be on a Formula 1 track.

“I feel very bad for the team, for the fans, for everyone that has been working also to put the car back together for today. It’s a big shame.”

 

         

 

 

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