Ferrari change Leclerc's gearbox following Miami crash

Ferrari has changed a number of elements on the back of Charles Leclerc's car after he crashed out of qualifying for the Miami Grand Prix.

Leclerc was on his final attempt when he took too much kerb at Turn 7 and spun off into the TecPro barrier, making impact with the rear of the car.

Ferrari driver coach for Leclerc, Jock Clear, says the team had to make a number of changes to the cosmetic damage and replace the gearbox.

"You saw he went in backwards, so we've changed the rear wing and the gearbox, and obviously the floor was damaged so we changed the floor and rear suspension," Clear confirmed to media, including RacingNews365.com.

"None of which has caused a problem in terms of penalties or our pool of gearboxes, but obviously from a safety point of view we have to change everything and take it back to the factory."

The gearbox change was made to a previously used one in the pool of four that is allowed during the season, having taken a new one heading into the Miami race weekend.

Leclerc's crash into the rear of the car intentional?

It was the second time Leclerc crashed at Turn 7 after also going into the TecPro barrier with the front of the car during the closing stages of FP2.

Leclerc later admitted that he went in head-first on purpose to protect the new parts Ferrari had brought, including the floor on the SF-23.

During the crash in qualifying Leclerc momentarily managed to straighten the car after the spin, before spinning again into the barrier.

When asked whether he intended to crash the rear of the car on purpose, Clear says it might have been a case of "self-preservation."

He explained: "I haven't asked him that. Because if you watch the video, he ends up pointing straight and then it's almost like he thinks 'No, I think I'll go in the other way!'

"He was going quite quickly at the time, I think it might have been a bit of self-preservation."