Charles Leclerc has added another unusual chapter to his history at Monza. The Ferrari driver caused the only two red flags seen in the Italian Grand Prix since the turn of the century, crashing at the Parabolica in both 2020 and 2026.
Leclerc suffered a heavy accident on the third lap of Sunday’s race while running second. The Monegasque lost control of his Ferrari at the high-speed Parabolica and hit the tyre barrier with considerable force, causing enough damage to the protection system for race control to stop the event.
The red flag was the second interruption of its kind at the Italian GP since 2000 — and both have now been caused by Leclerc.
The first came in 2020, when Leclerc lost control of his Ferrari at the same corner and crashed heavily into the outside tyre barrier. The incident forced the race to be stopped for repairs, with Pierre Gasly eventually taking a shock maiden F1 victory for AlphaTauri. Formula 1 records that the 2020 stoppage was the first Italian GP red flag since 1995.
The Parabolica, now officially known as the Alboreto Curve, is one of the fastest sections of the Monza circuit and leads directly onto the main straight. Leclerc’s 2026 accident came at high speed, with Italian reporter Giuliano Duchessa of AutoRacer estimating an impact of around 50G.
Leclerc was subsequently taken to the medical centre as a precaution after the crash. Ferrari later confirmed that he was OK, with the medical evaluation following standard procedures.
The last Italian GP red flag before Leclerc’s first incident came in 1995, when a first-lap accident involving Max Papis, Jean-Christophe Boullion, Andrea Montermini, Pedro Diniz and Roberto Moreno forced the race to be stopped. Monza therefore went 25 years without a red-flagged Italian GP before Leclerc’s 2020 crash ended that run.
There was also a remarkable coincidence surrounding the 2020 edition. Gasly, who won that race with AlphaTauri, started from pole position for the 2026 Italian GP with Alpine. The Frenchman was therefore again at the front of the field when Leclerc’s latest Monza accident brought out the red flag.
The crash also marked Leclerc’s second retirement of the 2026 F1 season. He had previously failed to finish his home Monaco Grand Prix after an accident.
Despite the DNF, Leclerc remains fifth in the 2026 drivers’ championship with 155 points.
The 2026 incident adds another strange statistic to Leclerc’s Monza record: whenever the Italian GP has been stopped by a red flag in the 21st century, it has been because the Ferrari driver has crashed at the Parabolica.
FAQ
How many times has the Italian GP been red-flagged since 2000?
The Italian Grand Prix has been red-flagged twice since the start of the 21st century: in 2020 and 2026. Both stoppages followed crashes involving Charles Leclerc at the Parabolica.
When did Leclerc cause the first Italian GP red flag?
Leclerc caused the first of the two 21st-century stoppages in 2020, when he crashed heavily at the Parabolica. The race was eventually won by Pierre Gasly for AlphaTauri.
Is Charles Leclerc OK after the 2026 Monza crash?
Yes. Leclerc was taken to the medical centre for precautionary checks after the heavy impact, and Ferrari subsequently confirmed that he was OK.
