Charles Leclerc loved a robust drive to P4 within the Japanese Grand Prix, however the Monegasque admitted that he was “paying the worth” for his qualifying struggles within the race, having missed out on a podium place to Ferrari crew mate Carlos Sainz.
Leclerc began the occasion from P8 on the grid after a tough qualifying on Saturday, wherein he had to make use of two units of sentimental tyres in Q1 to keep away from elimination. This resulted in him counting on only one flying lap in Q3.
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Race day was extra profitable for the 26-year-old, who made a one-stop technique work to his benefit. Whereas he on the right track to assert P3, he was overtaken by Sainz within the latter phases of the occasion and needed to accept fourth place, although this didn’t forestall him from being voted Driver of the Day by followers.
“If I solely take a look at right this moment I’m fairly completely happy, as a result of I feel there was nothing we might have executed higher,” Leclerc mirrored after the race. “We’ve executed an awesome race right this moment.
“I feel we didn’t have a greater end result principally due to the qualifying yesterday and that is the place I wish to focus, which is unusual – up to now I by no means needed to actually deal with qualifying as a result of that was certainly one of our strengths.
“However since [these past] two races, it’s probably not the efficiency in itself, it’s simply placing the tyres in the best window and I’ve been struggling a bit greater than usually, which is often my energy, and I’m paying the worth right this moment within the race by beginning additional away.
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“Aside from that, the tempo has been actually, actually good. The tyre administration has been actually, actually good. Communication and technique has been actually, actually good.
“It’s additionally good to be voted Driver of the Day. Generally you do nice races however you’re a bit by yourself, no person notices it. At the moment I’m completely happy that individuals seen it, and we’ll deal with the subsequent race to try to put every thing collectively, and to lastly have the end result that we wish.”
Requested if he had already began to type an concept of what’s inflicting his points in qualifying after Saturday’s session at Suzuka – or whether or not it’s going to require extra time to grasp – Leclerc responded: “We have to go a bit extra in-depth within the subsequent couple of days earlier than China.
“It’s very slight variations on the out-lap, however you then get much less grip on the push lap as a result of once more, as I mentioned yesterday, the lap was good, set-up was good, simply not sufficient grip.
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“Usually this has been the energy up to now however since two races it’s not, so it’s time to deal with that and hopefully put every thing collectively ranging from China.”
Leclerc and Ferrari will probably be hoping to have a clearer understanding of these points when the Chinese language Grand Prix takes place from April 19-21.