MIAMI, Florida — Saturday on the Components 1 Miami Grand Prix was a kind of days for Charles Leclerc that you’d relatively overlook.
On his method to the beginning grid within the F1 Dash race Leclerc, working across the circuit on a set of intermediate tires in moist circumstances, slid off the racing line and into the barrier, ending his F1 Dash race earlier than it even started.
Then in qualifying for the Miami Grand Prix Leclerc may solely handle to place his SF-25 on the fourth row, the place he’ll begin eighth and, as he famous when chatting with the media together with SB Nation after the session, behind each Williams drivers.
When talking with the media a downtrodden Leclerc started by reflecting on what occurred on the buildup to the F1 Dash race.
“The dash race, I imply I’ve watched it fairly a couple of occasions, actually, I can drive round 100 occasions and there’s not a lot you are able to do as a driver,” stated Leclerc. “I feel the error was within the first place to be out on [intermediate] tires with these observe circumstances, and this we have to perceive what we’ve achieved incorrect as a group.
“I received’t go too deep into that, however clearly I feel this was the principle mistake that then price us so much. However yeah, clearly that made the entire day much more tough for the mechanics, for me as effectively, not doing as many laps as others, however I don’t really feel like I’ve paid the value of it at the moment.”
Leclerc then shifted his consideration to his qualifying efficiency.
“After which in qualifying we’re simply not quick sufficient,” began the Ferrari driver.
“We’ve acquired to research there was one thing unusual on our aspect. I needed to change massively the automobile, the instruments and all the things so as to have sort of the stability I favored, it was very totally different, so we’ve acquired to look into what occurred.”
What has Leclerc so pissed off in the mean time? It’s the truth that he feels he’s extracting all the things he can out of the SF-25 proper now, however the outcomes don’t match up with how he feels after ending a given lap. He would possibly really feel that he has put within the lap he must high the timing sheets, however the stopwatch then tells him in any other case.
“To be sincere, this weekend I really feel like, and that’s in all probability much more so irritating, is that I really feel we’re maximizing the potential of the automobile.
“It’s simply that the potential of the automobile is simply not there and after I end a lap, once more at the moment in qualifying, I really feel very happy with my lap, and it’s solely citing P8.
“So yeah, we’ve acquired to take a look at it, I feel.”
Leclerc additionally highlighted that the traits of the circuit in Miami, with a number of low-speed corners, accentuates the present weaknesses of the SF-25 when in comparison with the remainder of the grid.
“A observe like this additionally highlights our weaknesses. There’s plenty of low-speed content material. Williams, each Williams are in entrance of us and I take into account my lap a very good one, so I feel, yeah, it’s fairly simple to grasp the place we’re missing.
“We’re simply not quick and no matter we do with the automobile, we will run it in several methods, however we simply don’t have the downforce that the others have in the mean time, particularly at low velocity.”
And with that, Leclerc was off, left to ponder one other irritating Saturday.