Charles Leclerc believes Ferrari’s qualifying show is a real indication of its present System 1 efficiency ranges, with Lewis Hamilton’s dash race victory on the Chinese language Grand Prix an outlier.
Hamilton sprung a shock on Friday when he took pole place for the dash, which he then transformed into his first victory for Ferrari, having struggled throughout the opening race in Australia final week.
Regardless of having fun with an even bigger profitable margin than all however one of many dash races from 2024, neither Hamilton nor Leclerc have been capable of replicate such a efficiency in qualifying for the grand prix.
As an alternative, Hamilton will begin fifth with Leclerc alongside – the pair having began seventh and eighth in Melbourne with the order reversed.
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Nevertheless, after underperforming in Australia and Hamilton’s considerably shock Shanghai dash success, Leclerc feels Ferrari has now levelled out with its qualifying displaying.
“This afternoon I believe the potential was simply not there,” he stated.
“The general grip was simply not there, and I believe in Australia I felt like we did not do an incredible job in qualifying, and we have been additional away than what we thought however, if we had put every part collectively, I believe we have been anticipating to be three tenths off.
“I believe these three tenths that we see right this moment are typically the place we’re. Other than [the fact that] Lewis did an incredible, nice job yesterday, however I really feel like right this moment I did a great job. I am positive Lewis did a great job as properly and that is the potential of the automobile.
“Is there just a little bit extra within the automobile? Possibly. Three tenths, I do not assume so. However we have to look ahead to tomorrow.”
Leclerc began the dash in fourth however completed a spot additional again, having been overtaken by George Russell after which struggled to discover a well beyond the Mercedes as his tyres suffered.
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Picture by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Pictures
“This morning we had good tempo within the automobile, particularly in direction of the top of the stint, however being in soiled air is at all times trickier, so I had wished for a greater quali,” Leclerc added.
“The tyre administration regarded good, however we must be cautious as a result of, on my aspect, I used to be struggling lots being in soiled air. Lewis had actually good tempo in free air. We simply have to try to discover free air from the place we begin.
“That is going to be a bit difficult as a result of, beginning P5 and P6, we have fairly a number of automobiles in entrance, so to seek out free air isn’t simple. However we’ll strive our greatest and hopefully our race tempo is best than the fellows round.”
Hamilton had entered qualifying hopeful of repeating his success from Friday however feels modifications to the set-up left his Ferrari harder to drive.
“We began actually optimistic naturally, however then we made simply a few small modifications, tweaks to the automobile, and it actually put the automobile on a knife-edge,” he stated.
“I believe the wind picked up just a little bit as properly, so the automobile was simply trickier right this moment. It was more durable to place laps collectively.
“You desire a automobile that is balanced. For the time being, from one nook to the following, the automobile has a unique steadiness.
“You simply desire a automobile you can depend on. Whenever you assault the corners, it is going to stick with you rather than lock up and go on or snap into oversteer and, when it is unpredictable, then you definitely’ve received no hope.”
Pictures from Chinese language GP – Dash Race & Qualifying
On this article
Mark Mann-Bryans
System 1
Lewis Hamilton
Charles Leclerc
Ferrari
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