Leclerc had been dominating the Barcelona race from pole for 26 laps until his Ferrari engine gave out. The Monegasque driver was forced to park the car in the garage and thus recorded his first DNF of 2022.
The setback not only cost him the race win, but it also made him cede the championship lead to title rival Verstappen, who took a 25-point haul for his fourth win of the season. Despite the massive swing in points, Leclerc said he still left Barcelona with a better feeling than after the previous two races in Imola and Miami.
