Charles Leclerc had an unfortunate incident during the final stages of Q3 session of the Austrian GP. The winner of six Grand Prix took responsibility for his mistake, which resulted in him starting in P6 on the grid for the main race on Sunday. It was a frustrating weekend for the Monegasque driver.
Ferrari had a good start in qualifying, with good lap times in Q1 and Q2, managing their tires and race pace. However, the final stages of Q3 proved rushed for the Maranello team. They only managed to do one good enough lap for P4, as Charles Leclerc failed to complete his last lap due to exceeding track limits at turn 6 of the Red Bull Ring.
Leclerc went off track on his final fast lap, causing likely damage to the SF-24 floor and ending his promising Q3 race. Despite an encouraging afternoon for Ferrari, the 25-year-old driver took full responsibility for his poor performance in Q3.
In his own words, Charles Leclerc admitted, “I think I overdid it. Turns 1 and 3 were very good, and I was faster than my previous lap. I tried to brake later and then locked up, losing two tenths. I pushed at turn 6 and lost control of the car. It was my mistake.”
The qualifying results are not ideal for the ambitious Ferrari driver, who has been struggling since his historic win in Monaco this season. However, the team showed signs of improvement at the Red Bull Ring, which should motivate the drivers to give their best in Sunday’s race in Spielberg.
Carlos Sainz, on the other hand, will start in P4 on the grid for the Austrian race. The Spaniard had a much-improved performance in qualifying. However, Sainz highlighted the issues faced with the SF-24 and the disadvantages it brings.
“We went different ways with the two cars, and both experienced jumps. It’s inconsistent, sometimes it’s there and sometimes it’s not. The team is working hard to bring an update that can improve our performance in high-speed corners at Silverstone,” explained Sainz.
Sainz concluded that the Ferrari SF-24 has been hindered in terms of race pace and cornering ability due to a persistent issue with jumps in certain sections of the track. He believes that an update is necessary to ensure better performances for the team.
Despite the challenges, Carlos Sainz, who won the Australian Grand Prix this season, remains a strong competitor for Ferrari. The talented 32-year-old driver will seek to maximize his results on Sunday and reignite his form from the beginning of the season.
