Charles Leclerc is determined to enhance his performance in qualifying following recent disappointments over a single lap. The talented driver expressed his resolve to make amends for his struggles in qualifying during the upcoming Chinese Grand Prix, highlighting that he usually doesn’t face such challenges.
Recognized for his remarkable speed over one lap, the Monegasque driver has encountered difficulties in showcasing his usual brilliance in recent races. In the Japanese Grand Prix last weekend, Leclerc could only secure the eighth position, significantly diminishing his chances of reaching the podium.
His pace was indicative of a podium finish, and had he qualified closer to Max Verstappen, who secured pole position, he would likely have finished in the top three.
With the Chinese Grand Prix marking the first race in China since 2019 and adopting a sprint weekend format, Leclerc sees this as an opportunity to demonstrate his typically impressive pace over a single lap.
He acknowledges the significance of the event, stating, “It’s going to be an interesting weekend,” when questioned about the sprint format of the Chinese Grand Prix.
“As always, I think it’s always quite tricky the sprint weekend and you have no room for mistake. But I like this. It’s even more of a challenge because qualifying now is a point I need to focus on for putting the tyres in the right window. So I’ll have two qualifying [sessions] in Shanghai, two chances to recover.”
It’s evident that Ferrari holds the position as the second-best team this season, boasting a noticeable advantage over competitors like McLaren, Aston Martin, and even Mercedes.
Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso has offered his insight, foreseeing a strong performance from the Maranello-based team at the Shanghai International Circuit. However, Charles Leclerc refrains from making definitive statements about the extent of Ferrari’s performance at this stage.
Acknowledging their current standing, Leclerc admits that Ferrari is the closest competitor to Red Bull. “I don’t know, I think the picture will be relatively similar to where it is, where Red Bull still have the upper hand,” Leclerc explained.
“We are the second best team and then the others, but McLaren wasn’t bad, it was really good today and was very close to us, so they are not that far.”
