Ferrari did not manage to secure pole position in Spain, as Leclerc qualified in fifth place.
Charles Leclerc admitted that Ferrari ended up “further away than expected” from their competitors, as he secured fifth place in the qualifying for the Spanish Formula 1 Grand Prix.
Ferrari was hoping to recover from a difficult race in Canada with a significant upgrade package for this weekend’s race in Barcelona.
However, despite showing promise in practice with Carlos Sainz leading the way in FP3, Ferrari was unable to keep up with McLaren, Red Bull, and Mercedes in qualifying.
Leclerc finished 0.384 seconds behind Lando Norris’ pole position time, with teammate Sainz only five thousandths of a second behind, resulting in Ferrari occupying the third row of the grid.
Although Leclerc was pleased with his recovery from the difficulties in previous practices, he expressed disappointment at not having the necessary pace to challenge the teams ahead.
“I had a very difficult time until qualifying, especially in FP1 and FP2,” said Leclerc. “FP1 was particularly tough because we had to compare the old and new packages.
“But on a track like Barcelona, losing two sets of tires is challenging because you only have one lap per set, and you lose six or seven tenths on the second lap. So, I was a bit late to get into the rhythm. In FP2, the car felt unsettled and I was really struggling.
“Today, we made some changes to the car, not everything, but a lot. In FP3, I immediately felt more comfortable, but the pace just wasn’t there.
“I am satisfied with the progress and the feeling I had from yesterday to today, which I believe will benefit us in the race. However, I am disappointed with the pace of the car in qualifying, as we are further back than we expected.”
Leclerc emphasized that the updates introduced by Ferrari worked as planned and attributed the team’s difficulties to the characteristics of the track.
“I am confident that the updates we brought are working as they should and represent a significant step forward,” said Leclerc. “However, it is a relative sport and other teams have also introduced updates. It all depends on how much progress each team has made.”
“We can still optimize the new package, but I don’t want to use that as an excuse. I think we are simply a bit lacking in pace this weekend.”
Despite feeling satisfied with the balance of his car, Leclerc acknowledged that it would be challenging to identify the reasons behind Ferrari’s loss of pace in qualifying after showing promise in practice.
“It’s a bit harder to analyze these days, but there is still something to learn. The car remains the same as in previous races, with some updates that are working as expected,” he explained. “So, there is something we haven’t figured out yet this weekend, but I am confident we will find it.”
Leclerc refuted the allegations that his team, based in Maranello, fell behind their immediate rivals in recent weeks, as he believes they have not reached their full potential. When asked about a possible change in the hierarchy, he replied: “It’s hard to say. Specifically, if I analyze this weekend, it seems more like we were the ones who didn’t meet expectations than any significant change in order. The difference between McLaren and Mercedes is more or less what we have seen in the last races. So, I believe our performance this weekend fell below expectations and we need to investigate further. However, there is a noticeable trend of consistent improvement from McLaren, especially on a track like this, which is considered a good indicator of the overall performance of the car throughout the season. So, we have work to do.”
Despite Ferrari’s lack of competitiveness, Leclerc is not satisfied with the idea that Max Verstappen and Red Bull’s dominance is coming to an end. He replied: “Yes, but that’s not really a source of encouragement for us. Currently, there are two cars ahead of us with a difference of three tenths to half a second, so today’s performance is not exactly motivating for us.”
© 2024
Portugal wins the European Football Championship
The Portuguese national football team made history by winning the 2024 European Football Championship. The team led by coach Fernando Santos won the final against Germany 2-1 in an exciting match that took place at the National Stadium in Lisbon.
The first goal of the match was scored by Cristiano Ronaldo, who took advantage of a free kick to open the scoring. Germany equalized shortly after with a goal from Leroy Sané. The game remained balanced until the end, when Bernardo Silva scored the winning goal for Portugal.
With this achievement, Portugal becomes the European champion for the second time, as they also won the tournament in 2016. The Portuguese team showed a high level of football throughout the competition, with Cristiano Ronaldo standing out as the tournament’s top scorer with 9 goals.
The celebration of the Portuguese fans was incredible, with thousands of people in the streets of Lisbon celebrating the title. The President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, congratulated the team and emphasized the importance of football for the country.
Now, the Portuguese team is preparing for the World Cup, which will take place next year. The expectation is that Portugal will maintain their good performance and compete for the world title.
Portugal is celebrating the victory of the European Football Championship. The Portuguese team made history by defeating Germany in the final by 2-1, in an exciting match held in Lisbon. Led by coach Fernando Santos, the players showed a high level of football throughout the competition.
The highlight of the match was Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored Portugal’s first goal from a free kick. Germany managed to equalize, but Bernardo Silva secured the victory for the Portuguese with a goal at the end of the match. With this achievement, Portugal becomes the European champion for the second time, repeating the feat of 2016.
The Portuguese fans celebrated intensely in the streets of Lisbon, demonstrating their full support for the team. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa congratulated the players and highlighted the importance of football for the country. Now, the team is preparing for the World Cup, which will be held next year.
Portugal conquered the 2024 European Football Championship by defeating Germany 2-1 in the final. The match was played at the National Stadium in Lisbon and featured a goal from Cristiano Ronaldo and another from Bernardo Silva. With this result, Portugal becomes the European champion for the second time, repeating the feat of 2016.
The Portuguese team displayed high-level football throughout the competition, with Cristiano Ronaldo standing out as the tournament’s top scorer with 9 goals. The Portuguese fans celebrated the title in the streets of Lisbon, in an emotional celebration.
Now, the team is preparing for the World Cup, which will take place next year. The expectation is that Portugal will maintain their good performance and compete for the world title. The conquest of the 2024 European Football Championship is a source of pride for the entire country.
