Vasseur Confirms Antonelli Apologized After Leclerc Crash at Dutch GP

Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur confirmed that Kimi Antonelli visited the Ferrari motorhome to apologize for his mistake that ended Charles Leclerc’s race at the Dutch Grand Prix.

Why it matters: The incident at Zandvoort led to an early retirement for Charles Leclerc and significantly compromised Antonelli’s race, sparking discussions about aggressive driving on the challenging circuit. Antonelli's quick apology shows maturity and respect, a gesture appreciated by Ferrari.

The incident: During the Dutch GP, Charles Leclerc was involved in a close duel with Kimi Antonelli. In Turn 3, Antonelli made a mistake, resulting in contact that forced Leclerc to retire. Antonelli also suffered damage, requiring an unscheduled pit stop and later incurring a double penalty, finishing 16th.

Leclerc described Antonelli's move as "too much" while acknowledging the difficulty of overtaking at Zandvoort.

Vasseur's perspective: When asked about Antonelli's apology, Vasseur stated, "He came. He came to apologize to Charles. Charles was not there, but he came to me. And honestly, I appreciate this, because this can happen."

He added, "I think it's not so easy to overtake in Zandvoort. It means that you also have to take risks. He took a risk. He made a mistake, and to come and say, ‘Guys, sorry, my mistake,’ I think it's a good reaction."

Vasseur also suggested the contact could be considered a racing incident, noting, "When you are in this situation, you know you have one or two attempts maximum."