‘Gasps of horror’: Ferrari gun booed after Mexico Grand Prix incident

Ferrari star Charles Leclerc has been booed in an ugly moment before he even had a chance to speak after the Mexico Grand Prix.

Charles Leclerc was booed before he could even get a word in. Photo: Fox Sports.

Charles Leclerc has felt the full wrath of the angry local crowd after home-town hero Sergio Perez crashed out of the Mexico Grand Prix on Monday morning.

The Red Bull driver shot off the line and pushed up on the outside of pole-sitter Leclerc entering Turn 1.

But disaster struck when the pair and Max Verstappen all entered the right hander side by side. Perez failed to give way and took heavy contact with the side of Leclerc’s front wing — sending him into the air and off the track.

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Perez was eventually forced to limp back to the pits and retired. He cast a devastated figure while getting ready to exit his car.

The Mexican racer spoke to Sky Sports after the incident and showed no ill-will towards Leclerc.

However, his army of fans at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez didn’t see it that way.

Leclerc was booed when interviewed on the track before the podium presentations.

Charles Leclerc was booed before he could even get a word in. Photo: Fox Sports.

“A lot of booing, a lot of booing,” Leclerc said.

“Guys, honestly, I had nowhere to go. I was in between the two Red Bulls and unfortunately I touched Checo, but I had nowhere to go.

“It’s life, he damaged my car and unfortunately it ended the race of Checo.

“But from our end, we maximised our race.

“It’s life. Of course, I’m disappointed to end the race of Checo like that, but I really didn’t do it on purpose and I had nowhere to go.”

The incident was investigation by FIA stewards and was ruled to be a “racing incident” with no penalties handed out.

Leclerc recovered from the contact and came home third for Ferrari after being passed by Lewis Hamilton following the race re-start.

Sergio Perez went flying. Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images.

The contact that sent Sergio Perez off the track. Photo: Fox Sports.

American motorsport queen Danika Patrick said on Sky Sports it was a “shame” that the crowd turned on Leclerc.

“If they knew how hard it is to get on the podium in Formula 1 they might not boo,” she said.

“But it’s also part of sports. Sometimes you’re actually booing because the person sitting next to you is cheering for someone else. I think there’s a lot of layers to the booing, but it’s a shame because it’s one of the hardest things to do, be on the podium in Formula 1.”

Sky Sports host Natalie Pinkham said it had been “gasps of horror” around the track after Perez’s DNF.

Perez said in hindsight he could have given Leclerc more space between himself and Verstappen — but was also “proud” he didn’t hold back.

He said he would have been disappointed just finishing on the podium when seeing an opportunity to take the race lead from Leclerc and Verstappen at Turn 1.

Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc and Richard Wolverson of Red Bull Racing celebrate on the podium. Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images.

“I wanted to give it all,” he said,

“I’m definitely very sad. But on the other side I’m really proud of myself because I gave it all.”

It has not gone unnoticed that Perez’s poor result came at the unfortunate time where Daniel Ricciardo produced his best weekend of the season.

The Aussie managed to avoid the chaos that unfolded in front of him. As the race went on the 34-year-old gave it his all as he ultimately crossed the line in seventh place.

The stunning drive from Ricciardo will only pour fuel on the speculation of him replacing Perez at Red Bull.

Perez has just three races remaining this year to prove he deserves his seat — with Lewis Hamilton breathing down his neck for second position in the championship.