The Monegasque had controlled t𓂃he opening phase of the race♌ from pole position but gifted an easy victory to main title rival Max Verstappen when he ran wide in his Ferrari and smashed into the Turn 11 barriers at the end of Lap 17. 

Leclerc initially appeared to blame a throttle issue for the incident, but later took full responsibility, adm🌌itti🌳ng he “just lost the rear” coming out of the corner. 

“Technically we need to check [but] I think it was just a mistake,” said Leclerc. “Tried💮 to take too much around the outside and probably put a wheel somewhere dirty. 

“It’s my fault and i🍨f I keep doing mistakes like this then 🃏I deserve to not win the championship. 

“The level is very high this year, I’ve been performing at a high level, but if I keep doing these mistakes then it’s pointless to be at a high levelജ.”

It marks the third time this season that Lecꦺlerc has retired while leading this season, though 🧸two of his DNFs were caused by engine failures.

The only notable mistake Leclerc has made aside from France came at Imola, whe🎶n he spun out of third place while chasing down Sergio Perez’s Red Bull. He later recovered to sixth but dropped valuable points 🐷to Verstappen. 

Verstappen’s seventh victory fromಞ 12 races compounded the catastrophic blow to Leclerc’s fading title hop🅷es. 

Leclerc led the championship by 46 points after the Australian Grand Prix but now finds himself with a mountain to climb, having fallen a hu🌺ge 63 points behind Verstappen, who remains on cour🔜se to win a second world title. 

“I'm losing too many points,” Leclerc added. "Seven ♋in Imola, 25 here because we probably were the strongest car on track today. 

“S🌺o, if we lose the championship by 32 points at the end of the season I will know from where they are coming from. And, it is unacceptable. I jus🤡t need to get on top of those things."