Charles Leclerc Ruled Out of Canadian Grand Prix Following Heav

Charles Leclerc Ruled Out of Canadian Grand Prix Following Heavy C…read more

Charles Leclerc will not participate in the second practice session (FP2) of the Canadian Grand Prix after a crash during the opening practice on Friday at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. The Ferrari driver lost control heading into Turn 3, locking up and crashing into the barriers, severely damaging the entire left-hand side of his SF-25 car.

Following the crash, Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur addressed the media, hinting that Leclerc would be unable to return to the track for FP2. “When I left the garage, we thought the chassis was damaged. By regulation, we can’t just swap it and continue—we need to conduct proper checks. I think Charles is done for today,” said Vasseur during a press conference. This assessment was soon confirmed by Sky Sports F1, who reported live that Leclerc would indeed be sitting out the second session.

Ferrari later issued an official statement on social media, confirming the news: “Due to the damage to his car sustained in the crash in FP1, Charles Leclerc will not take part in FP2, as the survival cell on his SF-25 needs to be replaced. As per the regulations, Charles will be able to drive in FP3.”

The survival cell—essentially the protective cockpit structure designed to protect the driver—is a crucial safety component, and its damage requires a full chassis replacement. This process is heavily regulated by the FIA to ensure no compromises are made on safety. The new chassis must undergo a mandatory scrutineering inspection before it is cleared for use, and this can only be done once per day. Since the replacement chassis wasn’t ready in time for Friday’s inspection, Leclerc is barred from running until Saturday morning.

This means that while all other drivers completed the usual two hours of Friday practice, Leclerc was only able to log 15 minutes on track before his crash ended his day. He will have to rely solely on the third and final practice session (FP3) on Saturday morning—just one hour long—for any final preparations before qualifying begins at 4 p.m. local time.

The incident continues what has been a frustrating weekend for the Monegasque driver. Despite recent highs—Leclerc has out-qualified his seven-time world champion teammate Lewis Hamilton in seven out of nine races in the 2025 season—this setback poses a significant challenge. With limited track time, Leclerc will be under pressure to quickly find rhythm and confidence in FP3 before launching into a crucial qualifying session.

All eyes will now be on Leclerc as he attempts to recover from this early weekend blow and maintain his strong qualifying form. Ferrari, meanwhile, will hope the rebuilt car performs flawlessly after the overnight repairs and FIA clearance process.