Charles Leclerc, Ferrari driver, believes he would have opted for a one-stop strategy in the Japanese Grand Prix, even if he had started in a better position. Leclerc struggled to warm up his soft tires enough during qualifying, which affected his performance in the race. However, he managed to execute a bold one-stop race, starting in eighth place on the grid and finishing in fourth place, just behind his teammate Carlos Sainz. Leclerc overtook Lewis Hamilton during a restart and extended his first stint to avoid a pit stop, which propelled him to second place. Although he was passed by Sergio Perez and Sainz later in the race, Leclerc maintained his position ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris. Despite his successful race, Leclerc acknowledged the need to improve his qualifying performance, as he struggled to get the tires in the ideal temperature range in two consecutive races. He plans to focus on finding the right tire window for the next race in Shanghai. Leclerc believes that even if he had qualified better, his strategy would have been similar, as he was satisfied with his performance on the medium tires during the first stint of the race.
Leclerc, known for his expertise in single-lap performance, admitted to being puzzled by his struggles with low fuel at the Suzuka circuit in his SF-24 car, despite feeling well balanced. However, upon reviewing the data, Leclerc believes that his recent performance deficit compared to his teammate can be attributed to his failure to properly prepare his tires during the warm-up laps.
“I have to admit that my laps were not terrible,” he explained. “In fact, the lap I completed yesterday was quite good. However, the grip I had from the tires simply wasn’t there. This is because I didn’t do a good job on the previous lap. It’s incredibly frustrating because you finish the lap feeling satisfied, but then you realize you are far from where you should be.”
Leclerc is determined to solve this problem and is confident that, by carefully analyzing the data, he can make significant improvements before the race in Shanghai. He has a week to focus on this aspect and, based on his previous experiences, believes he can progress quickly.
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko expressed relief that Leclerc started further back on the grid, as his race simulation practices had been better than the others. Ferrari managed to overcome their race pace limitations, and Leclerc finds it refreshing to see progress being made over a weekend instead of struggling to maintain position.
“I think we are also much more consistent,” he added. “Last year, it was easy to make small setup errors that would completely ruin our race and leave us much further back than we expected. Now, the car is much more stable during races, which is a positive development. Now we can finish a weekend on a high note instead of starting strong and being disappointed on Sunday nights.”
Leclerc is pleased with this progress and aims to put it all together on Saturdays to ensure many successful weekends in the future.
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Recent events in the world of sports have left fans ecstatic. A new generation of talents has emerged, bringing with them a contagious energy. Among these promising young athletes is 19-year-old soccer player Pedro Silva. With incredible skills and unwavering determination, Pedro has caught the attention of major clubs around the world.
Born in a small town in the interior of Brazil, Pedro always dreamed of becoming a professional player. His passion for soccer began at a young age, when he was just a boy. Since then, he has trained hard and dedicated himself entirely to the sport. His natural talent and leadership abilities have made him stand out in his local team.
Over time, Pedro started attracting the attention of scouts and coaches from professional clubs. His speed, technique, and intelligence on the field impressed everyone. Soon, he received offers from various renowned clubs, including Barcelona and Manchester United.
The decision of which club Pedro will choose is still unknown. While some believe he should move to a European club, others argue that he should stay in Brazil to further develop his game. Regardless of the choice, one thing is certain: Pedro has a bright future ahead of him.
Fans are eager to see what the future holds for Pedro Silva. With his undeniable talent and exemplary work ethic, he has all the potential to become a global soccer star. Follow this story closely and don’t miss any details about this young prodigy. The world of sports is about to witness the birth of a new legend.
