Leclerc could have fought for win without Hamilton contact

Leclerc made contact with new team-mate Lewis Hamilton on the first lap for the second time in two races but unlike in Australia a week prior, damage was sustained as the Monegasque lost the front left endplate from his wing. The seven-time champion swept to the apex from the outside as Leclerc picked up oversteer from the inside kerb.

Despite the damage during a race where management of the front left tyre in particular was crucial to performance, Leclerc showed enough performance to run in fourth position before being overtaken in the closing stages by Red Bull's Max Verstappen. 

None of this would matter ultimately as both Ferraris were disqualified post-race, with Leclerc's car underweight and Hamilton's skidblock being overworn.

Leclerc: "We had the pace to fight"

"I honestly think today we had the pace to fight with the guys in front," Leclerc told media including GPBlog before knowledge of his disqualification.

"When I mean the front I mean the McLaren. I think Lewis had shown it yesterday [Saturday in the sprint] - I think on my side, I wasn't doing a really good job but in qualifying, I did a better job and I was looking forward to the race because I knew that the changes I had done were going to be a bit better for the race.

"It was, but unfortunately, I couldn't use the full potential of it."

Explaining how much the damage to his front wing affected his race, Leclerc added: "Honestly, it felt really bad. I think we were generally quick.

"All in all I think we had a really good race car. I did a step with the car and I think that made it a lot better. I felt there was a lot more potential. I was destroying the front and 30 points less downforce."