Charles Leclerc crashes before Miami F1 sprint even begins as Lewis Hamilton fumes
Heavy rain hit the Miami track ahead of the race, leaving the track soaking wet. The pit lane had just opened to let the drivers go to the grid, and on a very wet track Leclerc hit the wall heavily.
The Ferrari man had not even been pushing his car but the heavy rain and standing water caught him out and he skidded into the wall. The crash left his rear left wheel hanging off the car, with Leclerc unable to get it back to the pits, meaning he would not start.
The 27-year-old was left devastated by the incident. He said over team radio: "No, no. Ouch. I'll try to go back. Complete aquaplanning. That was complete aquaplanning, I was not even pushing. I don't think I can go back."
Despite the rain and the standing water, Ferrari had opted to send Leclerc and team-mate Hamilton out on the intermediate tyres, rather than full wets. That proved to be a catastrophic decision, with Hamilton left fuming at the team. He said over team radio: "I don't know how you put us out on Inters here."
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