WATCH: Throwback to Charles Leclerc's emotional yet stupid crash at Baku during 2019 Azerbaijan Grand Prix

In the 2019 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Ferrari’s rising star, Charles Leclerc, experienced an emotional and self-critical moment that became one of the most memorable incidents of that season. Having dominated all three practice sessions and emerging as the favourite for pole position, Leclerc's momentum came to a shocking halt during the second part of qualifying when he miscalculated a turn and crashed into the barriers at Baku’s infamous Turn 8.

The crash occurred as Leclerc locked up under braking at Turn 8, a section renowned for its difficulty and narrow width. Had he chosen to release the brakes and run into the escape area, like Lewis Hamilton did earlier that weekend, he might have avoided the barriers and kept his qualifying session alive. Instead, the impact left his Ferrari battered, and his hopes of a pole dashed.

Here is the video:

Charles Leclerc in 2019, "I'm stupid..."#F1 #Formula1 #AzerbaijanGP pic.twitter.com/ElSLFYcYw2

— Extreme Cars (@extremecars__) September 9, 2024

This tight section, adjacent to the historic city walls, claimed another victim in the high-pressure setting of Formula 1. Leclerc's crash was especially frustrating because he had already secured a time fast enough to progress into the final session of qualifying.

Instead, his mistake meant that he would start ninth on the grid, far from the front row he was eyeing. As his Ferrari came to a halt and the red flags were waved, a devastated Leclerc vented his frustration on the team radio, repeatedly declaring, "I am stupid, I am stupid."

Charles Leclerc calls himself useless

Charles Leclerc’s remorse didn’t end there. Leclerc took to Twitter shortly after the incident, calling himself "useless" and offering no excuses for the error. In his post-session interviews, the young driver did not hold back, saying, "I deserve what happened today... I've been stupid, as I said on the radio."

He acknowledged the gravity of his mistake, especially after showing such promise in the practice sessions. Reflecting on the weekend, Leclerc noted, "After looking at FP1, FP2, FP3, Q1, the pole was possible today, and I threw all the potential in the bin."