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Charles Leclerc feels Kimi Antonelli was just as much to blame as Oscar Piastri for the incident that put the Ferrari Formula 1 driver out of the Brazilian Grand Prix.
F1's stewards blamed Piastri for locking up and colliding with Antonelli's Mercedes at Turn 1 after the early safety car restart, an incident which sent Antonelli's Mercedes clattering into Leclerc's Ferrari.
But Leclerc aportioned equal blame to Piastri and Antonelli, who he suggested acted as if the McLaren driver “was never there.”
“I think actually Kimi was as much to blame as Oscar,” Leclerc told media, including The Race, after his Brazilian Grand Prix ended.
“For me, it was a bit of a 50/50 incident, Oscar being a bit optimistic and Kimi doing the corner like Oscar was never there, so that means they collided and then touched me.
“For me, the blame is not all on Oscar. Yes, it was optimistic, but this could have been avoided and I’m frustrated.
“At the end of the day, I’m not angry with Oscar or Kimi; these things happen. But I wouldn’t go as far as saying it was all Oscar’s fault because I don’t think it is.”
Antonelli, for his part, did not take responsibility for the accident despite being apologetic towards Leclerc and Ferrari.
Although the Mercedes driver was accused by Leclerc of acting like Piastri wasn’t there, Antonelli said he was unable to see the McLaren on the inside line.
However, Antonelli admitted he was “lucky” not to come away with more damage, but was remorseful for causing the end of Leclerc’s race.
"It was a difficult position with one car on the outside and one car on the inside,” Antonelli said.
"I tried to brake late, not too late, and problem is I didn't see the car next to me anymore. I try to do a decent line for the position I was and ended up getting hit.
“I was lucky to come away like that, because I hit quite hard Charles. Unfortunately I ended his race."
Piastri's view
Piastri was understandably frustrated at receiving full blame for the incident, for which he received a 10-second penalty, and suggested he “wouldn't have done anything differently” if he had to relive the situation.
“I would say I was losing ground, that was because I think the other two were braking very late,” Piastri said of the incident.
“And it was a bit damp on the inside, so I was probably a bit cautious with that, but obviously when you're on the outside, you can take much more liberty.
“I think the fact that I managed to keep it stuck on the inside white line with a lock-up, I'm pretty firmly in control if I could keep my line, so it is what it is.
“No matter what way you look at that, I'm not sure where I'm supposed to go, because when you have that good of a run into turn one and you're fully alongside, you're not just going to back out.
“I think to try and go in any deeper than I did would have been ambitious, and I was where I was.
“I think in that scenario, if I were clearly understeering and missing the apex and then hit Kimi, then sure, I'd understand, but the fact that I was as far left as I could have gone makes it tough.”
McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella backed Piastri, suggesting the incident “probably could have been avoided” had Antonelli recognised Piastri on the inside line.
“It's true, we see a little lock-up, but at the same time, he is able to maintain the trajectory, which is ultimately what counts,” Stella said.
“I think the responsibility should be shared with Kimi, because Kimi kind of knew that Oscar was on the inside and the collision probably could have been avoided.
“Perhaps Kimi was also worried of having Leclerc on the outside.
“A difficult situation, obviously, but I think overall the penalty is harsh for Oscar to be considered fully to blame for this incident.
“At the same time, now it's done, so I reiterate the respect that we have for the stewards, we accept it, we move on."
