Charles Leclerc managed to turn a challenging weekend around, climbing from P9 on the grid to finish fifth at the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix. Despite a tough start, the Monegasque driver believes Ferrari did everything they could to recover after a dismal qualifying session saw his best lap deleted for track limits.
Starting from ninth, Leclerc’s race began on the back foot, stuck behind Fernando Alonso and Nico Hulkenberg, which hampered his early pace. However, the Ferrari driver showed resilience, fighting his way back through the field to nearly snatch fourth from George Russell.
Reflecting on his performance, Leclerc found positives in Ferrari’s efforts despite the frustrating start: “The first 25 laps were a nightmare. I was just a sitting duck behind Fernando and Nico,” Leclerc said. “But as soon as they pitted, we maximized our points.”
Leclerc admitted that his mistakes in qualifying contributed to Ferrari’s struggles, stating, “I didn’t do my job as a driver in qualifying, and today I paid the price for that.” Despite the challenges, Leclerc praised the team’s recovery during the race and acknowledged that fifth place was likely the best they could achieve given the circumstances.
Looking at the bigger picture, Leclerc was realistic about Ferrari’s chances against the superior pace of McLaren and Red Bull. “I think we had the car to finish in front of George, but McLaren and Max [Verstappen] were just too quick,” he noted.
Leclerc also tempered expectations about Ferrari’s prospects in the Constructors’ Championship, acknowledging the significant pace advantage held by McLaren. “McLaren still have a better car than us by quite a bit,” he admitted. “We’ve had some good races, but we need to be careful not to raise expectations too high.”
Ultimately, while Leclerc’s recovery drive showcased his skill, it also underscored the challenges Ferrari faces in closing the gap to their rivals. With McLaren’s resurgence and Red Bull’s consistency, Ferrari will need to refine their approach if they hope to stay competitive in the remaining races of the season.
