The Ferrari driver had certified second to Max Verstappen, however was unable to take the beginning after an electronic command issue caused a power unit and hydraulic failure.
This pitched him into the barrier, and regardless of his greatest efforts to get the automobile going once more, he was unable to take action.
Ferrari staff principal Fred Vasseur confirmed that the Leclerc’s failure to get away from the accident scene had been attributable to “the identical challenge, the system switched off the hydraulic and engine”.
“I went to the nook, I misplaced the facility steering first, after which the engine lower off for security causes,” Leclerc defined. “After which the rear wheels locked up, and that made me spin.
“So I had no management over the automobile to any level. Hydraulics, that’s what I felt.
“However on the finish, I do not assume that’s the challenge, talking with the engineers. We all know what that’s, however I can’t go an excessive amount of into particulars.”
Leclerc stated he might have stored going as solely his entrance wing was broken within the accident if his electronics challenge hadn’t stored taking place.
“I moved the automobile once more, there was solely the entrance wing that was broken,” he went on. “However aside from that, nothing else.
Photograph by: Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-23
”I began once more, I obtained the hydraulics for 15 seconds. However then precisely the identical factor occurred. I misplaced the hydraulics, after which the engine cuts off.
“And clearly, it was clear that I could not go ahead anymore, as a result of I went 20 metres.”
Vasseur clarified that the issue had not occurred this season: “No. At the least not within the final 10 months! It was the primary time.”
Leclerc’s non-start got here after a string of disappointments over the course of a season that has seen him fail to win a race.
Whereas nonetheless sitting within the automobile, he used staff radio to vent about his persevering with dangerous luck.
“Perhaps it is a part of the second, additionally I used to be very pissed off,” he stated when requested by Autosport about his feedback.
“I am aggravated as a result of clearly, particularly within the second a part of the 12 months I lastly discovered the arrogance with the automobile, and you then begin second, you sacrifice a complete weekend for Sunday’s race, you do six corners, and that is it.
“So, I am very pissed off for now however now I would like to maneuver on and clearly deal with the final two races, that is one of the best factor I can do as a driver.
“However it’s after all irritating to lose so many alternatives all through the season. I simply hope that after this race we are able to anyway nonetheless be within the combat for the second within the constructors’ [championship].
Photograph by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images
Frederic Vasseur, Crew Principal and Normal Supervisor, Scuderia Ferrari, on the grid earlier than the race
“That’s my solely motivation for the remainder of the 12 months, as a result of then no matter else is left is just not one thing that’s tremendous thrilling.”
He added: “I might moderately have a number of issues in a season the place I am preventing for these positions, than in a season the place I am preventing for the championship. Having stated that, I might moderately not have most of these points in any respect.”
Vasseur believes “it could have been doable” for Leclerc to complete on the rostrum, and stated the non-start was much more disappointing as a result of the staff had targeted its efforts on Sunday’s predominant race. Crew-mate Carlos Sainz completed sixth.
“For positive, it is extremely irritating for Charles and for the staff that additionally, strategically, one other weekend we put all our effort on the long term to avoid wasting tyres, so we had new tyres,” he stated.
“We didn’t put new tyres on for the brief one, we put every thing on the lengthy one, and we didn’t take the beginning.
“For positive, it’s irritating. He was greater than disillusioned, however I’m positive that he might be again, and we might be focussed on Vegas.”
He added: “Now, we’ve to remain calm to grasp what has occurred to keep away from any points sooner or later.
“I believe the tempo over the weekend was not that dangerous. We have been in a very good place immediately, and it’s a missed alternative as a result of we have been catching up with Mercedes slightly bit over the weekend however with Charles on the entrance row with two units of tyres, it might have been significantly better.
“We’ve got nonetheless two makes an attempt with Vegas and Abu Dhabi. Vegas could possibly be a chaotic one and if we’ve the identical tempo as this weekend and Mercedes the identical tempo as this weekend, we’ve a possibility.”