Leclerc to undergo further checks after Monza vision scare

Charles Leclerc will undergo further medical checks after his heavy Monza crash, with his right eye briefly causing concern. The Ferrari driver escaped serious injury when his SF-26 hit the barriers at Parabolica on Lap 2, but will be assessed again before Madrid next weekend.

Why it matters:

Ferrari's home race turned into a nightmare. Leclerc's retirement, combined with a tense first-lap clash between the team's drivers, leaves questions about reliability, conduct and lost points in a tight season.

The details:

• Leclerc lost control defending from Oscar Piastri at Parabolica; the rear stepped out and the impact caused a red flag.
• Leclerc said his neck was fine but his right eye initially caused concern: "It was not showing me great vision, but now it's all good."
• He confirmed further checks "probably tonight and tomorrow" to be fully fit for Madrid: "Better safe than sorry."
• He also suggested unusual power delivery may have played a role, saying the throttle felt "weird."
• Earlier, Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton clashed at the first chicane. Hamilton was forced wide at Turn 2 and finished sixth. Leclerc admitted they "went too far."
• Hamilton, who said he was ahead at the apex, called for written rules of engagement: "Here, there are no rules. We need to address that."

What's next:

Ferrari will examine the data before Madrid. Leclerc expects to be cleared, but Hamilton's demand for clearer internal rules is unlikely to go unanswered. With the SF-26 showing race-winning potential, the Scuderia cannot afford more self-inflicted damage.