• Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc with Red Bull driver Max Verstappen after the qualifying session of the Monaco Grand Prix on Saturday, May 22. EPA
    Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc with Red Bull driver Max Verstappen after the qualifying session of the Monaco Grand Prix on Saturday, May 22. EPA
  • Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco, centre, after the qualifying session in Monaco on Saturday. AP
    Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco, centre, after the qualifying session in Monaco on Saturday. AP
  • Ferrari's Charles Leclerc reacts after getting pole position in qualifying in Monaco. Reuters
    Ferrari's Charles Leclerc reacts after getting pole position in qualifying in Monaco. Reuters
  • The car of Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc is taken off the track after a crash during the qualifying session. AP
    The car of Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc is taken off the track after a crash during the qualifying session. AP
  • Sergio Perez of Red Bull qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix. Getty
    Sergio Perez of Red Bull qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix. Getty
  • Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas reacts after qualifying on Saturday. Reuters
    Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas reacts after qualifying on Saturday. Reuters
  • Red Bull's Max Verstappen after qualifying on Saturday. Reuters
    Red Bull's Max Verstappen after qualifying on Saturday. Reuters
  • Charles Leclerc during qualifying on Saturday. Getty
    Charles Leclerc during qualifying on Saturday. Getty
  • Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton during qualifying. Reuters
    Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton during qualifying. Reuters

Charles Leclerc drops out of Monaco Grand Prix due to gearbox failure


  • English
  • Arabic

Charles Leclerc has been forced to drop out of the Monaco Grand Prix due to a gearbox failure.

The Ferrari driver secured pole position in his home GP despite damaging his car after crashing into a wall during qualifying on Saturday.

Ferrari did not believe Leclerc's gearbox had been damaged and elected not to replace it in order to avoid a grid penalty.

After his crash at the end of qualifying, Leclerc admitted his worry over any potential punishment. "I am not feeling well," he told Sky Sports F1. "For now I'm just waiting on the mechanics to open the gearbox to know if there is damage or not."

But as the cars made their way to the grid on Sunday, an alarmed Leclerc said to his team: "No, no, no, no ... The gearbox, guys."

A member of the Ferrari team later confirmed to FIA director Michael Masi: "We have an issue and we will not make it to the grid."

It meant the front-row spot was left vacant and Max Verstappen for Red Bull was left leading the grid for the fifth race of the Formula One season.

Leclerc has yet to finish his home grand prix. He retired after collisions in 2018 and 2019, and also failed to finish two Formula Two races there in 2017, but had been hoping to become the first home winner since Louis Chiron in 1931.

"Now I'm getting used to this feeling here unfortunately. I've never finished a race here and this year I don't start it ... it's a difficult one to take," Leclerc told Sky Sports television.

"I also feel for the team. The mechanics have done such a hard job yesterday to try and check everything and they were finally a bit happy this morning to see that everything seems fine. And then this happens."

How the bonus system works

The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.

The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.

There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).

All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.

Expert advice

“Join in with a group like Cycle Safe Dubai or TrainYAS, where you’ll meet like-minded people and always have support on hand.”

Stewart Howison, co-founder of Cycle Safe Dubai and owner of Revolution Cycles

“When you sweat a lot, you lose a lot of salt and other electrolytes from your body. If your electrolytes drop enough, you will be at risk of cramping. To prevent salt deficiency, simply add an electrolyte mix to your water.”

Cornelia Gloor, head of RAK Hospital’s Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Centre 

“Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can ride as fast or as far during the summer as you do in cooler weather. The heat will make you expend more energy to maintain a speed that might normally be comfortable, so pace yourself when riding during the hotter parts of the day.”

Chandrashekar Nandi, physiotherapist at Burjeel Hospital in Dubai
 

Empty Words

By Mario Levrero  

(Coffee House Press)
 

RESULT

Huddersfield Town 2 Manchester United 1
Huddersfield: Mooy (28'), Depoitre (33')
Manchester United: Rashford (78')

 

Man of the Match: Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield Town)