Leclerc after Ferrari nightmare: I got greedy and paid the price

Ferrari’s homecoming to Italy, after a stellar start to the 2022 season, was spoiled as early as the first lap when Carlos Sainz made contact with McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo and became stuck in the gravel.

Leclerc then spun dramatically after failing to challenge Red Bull’s Sergio Perez for second.

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Max Verstappen eventually won the Grand Prix and shrunk the gap to 27 points behind Leclerc in the title standings.

Leclerc said to Sky Sports: “Whatever happened before the spin are just details. The spin shouldn’t have happened today. 

“I had P3 but I was too greedy. I paid the price for it and lost seven potential points. 

“Seven points would be valuable at the end of the championship.”

Leclerc said about Ferrari’s tussle with Red Bull: "It is very, very close and I think it will be that way for the rest of the season.

"And that is why every small mistake... well it's a big mistake... but the consequence considering the mistake could have been much bigger.

"It's only seven points today and it could cost more the next time so I need to be careful of that."

He then posted on social media: “I gave it all but went over the limit at the end. Sorry to the team and to all the tifosi that supports us. Instead of a P3, it ended up in a P6. We’ll come back stronger.”

Leclerc spun into the barriers and required a pit stop to fix his Ferrari but then battled back from ninth place to finish in sixth.

Perez finished behind team-mate Verstappen and McLaren’s Lando Norris was third.

Ferrari's first bad day of F1 2022 season

Sainz said after his nightmare first-lap exit: “I didn’t get the best of starts with Charles. We need to analyse that. 

“We got cleanly into Turn 2. Daniel went into the turn leaving plenty of space but the front of the car bumped into me. 

“It was an unlucky situation to go into the gravel. Nothing I could have done. It is really bad, definitely a tough moment.”