Charles Leclerc expressed his disappointment with the rainy weather conditions that hindered his ability to show his progress in one-lap conditions during Sprint Qualifying at the Chinese Grand Prix. The Monegasque driver had been struggling with low fuel in recent races, but had gained confidence after testing in the Ferrari simulator in Maranello. Leclerc showed his optimism in the first two segments, finishing just a tenth behind the fastest time in SQ2. However, he was unable to replicate that performance in the rain.
Leclerc’s difficulties began when he spun on his initial lap at Turn 6 and made contact with the barrier, forcing him back to the pits. Despite recovering from this incident and setting the third fastest time, Leclerc ended up in seventh place, two positions and four tenths behind his Ferrari teammate, Carlos Sainz. Reflecting on the challenging conditions, Leclerc admitted that the first lap was extremely difficult and that it was hard to warm up the tires. He acknowledged that his aggressive approach led to losing control at Turn 8, compromising his qualifying session.
Although Leclerc was not satisfied with his qualifying performance, he recognized the progress he had made in dry conditions. He had focused on tire preparation and believed it had paid off to some extent. Looking ahead to the race, Leclerc remained optimistic but acknowledged the uncertainty of the outcome. He was looking forward to the opportunity to prove that he had overcome his difficulties in one-lap situations with the Ferrari SF-24 car.
The Sprint race, which precedes the traditional qualifying session, will give Leclerc another chance to showcase his skills. With dry conditions expected, he hoped to maximize his performance and make up for the missed opportunity in qualifying. Leclerc acknowledged the importance of the Sprint race and the subsequent main race, emphasizing the need to perform well in both to achieve a positive result.
