Featured Image Credit: Getty/Screengrab
Topics: Formula 1, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
John McDougall
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc crashed out of this afternoon's Sao Paulo Grand Prix in Brazil on the formation lap in a desperately unlucky incident.
There are only a handful of races left in this year's Formula 1 season and Max Verstappen has long wrapped up his third successive drivers' world championship after an absolutely dominant season.
Red Bull have also won the constructors' championship, but there is plenty of unresolved issues behind the all-dominant Verstappen and his team in both championships.
Verstappen is on pole for this weekend's Sao Paulo Grand Prix, which is taking place at the iconic Interlagos circuit in the Brazilian city.
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Qualifying alongside the Dutchman was Leclerc as he aimed to given Verstappen a hard time in Brazil, even though the Red Bull driver remains the clear favourite for victory given his form and the performance of his machinery.
But there was drama before the lights had even gone out in Interlagos - and Leclerc has not been able to make the start.
The cars were going around on their formation lap when suddenly Leclerc spun off and went into one of the barriers.
He sustained damage to his front wing, which could have been repaired, but rather than head back to the pit-lane, Leclerc pulled into a service road by the track to retire.
Leclerc revealed over team radio he spun off after losing hydraulics in his car - and he could not hide his disappointment.
He said: "I lost the hydraulics. Why am I so unlucky?"
In any case, the race has been red flagged and paused after a big first lap incident which has seen Williams' Alex Albon and Kevin Magnusson of Haas being forced to retire.
The race will get back under way with a standing start after all the debris has been cleared away and the safety barriers repaired.