After the pair raced at Turn 1 with Alpines Fernando Alonso at the start of Sunday’s race at the start of Sunday’s race, the pair ran far in the corner before the front wing of Leclerc’s Ferrari Gasly’s rear left tire cut into Turn 3 on the run.
The slight contact resulted in Gasly suffering a puncture and the Frenchman proceeded to overtake both Antonio Giovinazzi’s Alfa Romeo and Nicholas Latifi’s Williams in the braking zone of Turn 3 when he was swallowed up by the pack.
Gasly had to retire at the end of the first tour with a suspension damage to his AlphaTauri, while Leclerc also had to stop early to service his front wing, which dropped him to 17th place.
F1 drivers were told earlier in the season that the FIA would be stricter on first lap incidents this year, but Leclerc’s collision with Gasly and the resulting hand-to-hand combat at Turn 3 have not been investigated.
On the subject of matching items
When asked if the incident was being investigated, Masi replied, “Yes, it was viewed in advance of the incident on curve 3, which was noted on the screen.
“It was viewed as one of those determined as a first round matter and given the overall situation that no further investigation was required.”
Leclerc believes both drivers were caught simply because they were moving at the exact same moment the contact occurred.
On the subject of matching items
“I was to Pierre’s left, I think he was trying to slip the slipstream of the boys who were slightly to his left and who were simultaneously going to the left while I was trying to get behind him,” the Monegasque explained.
“We were just surprised, we both and we were in contact. It was a very small contact that had very big consequences for both of us. “
A frustrated Gasly gave his version of events, insisting that there wasn’t much he could have done to avoid the unfortunate encounter.
“There was contact and I completely holed the whole heck,” he said. “I ended up on three wheels or even two wheels and at some point, so definitely not what we wanted and a huge shame.
“I haven’t really seen the reruns yet, but in the end it won’t change what happened. I was in the middle of the straight when this happened so I guess there wasn’t much I could do and it’s a shame. “
Later in the race, Leclerc cut the front wing of Kimi Raikkonen’s Alfa Romeo shortly after overtaking the Finn on the run to Turn 4, but Masi confirmed that the incident “was not looked at”.
Leclerc also survived another close call with Alonso, which was swept across the field at P7 in the same corner during his attack.
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