Formula 1 Today: Leclerc Admits Ferrari’s Experiments Cost Him Dear in British GP Qualifying
Charles Leclerc has conceded that Ferrari’s experimental approach in the opening two practice sessions of the British Grand Prix has come at a cost, as he suffered a shock Q2 exit. Ferrari decided to divide parts between their drivers to understand the bouncing issue that has hindered their competitiveness lately. While Leclerc’s teammate Carlos Sainz ran without the Barcelona updates, Leclerc opted to revert to the older package, only to face a damp final practice session.
As a result, Leclerc qualified 11th, marking his second Q2 elimination in four races. Despite this setback, Leclerc holds no grudges against Ferrari’s decision, recognizing that sacrificing his own weekend will ultimately benefit the team in the long run. “We are just struggling a lot at the moment,” Leclerc stated. “I felt like yesterday we learned a good amount for the team by splitting the cars.“
Leclerc acknowledged that Ferrari’s strategy meant they were not optimizing their weekend performance. “Obviously, today we lose the Q3 by a tenth, and it was the first time I was driving with this configuration on the dry after FP3 in the wet.” He admitted that Ferrari is “struggling to optimize the weekend,” but believes the experiments will pay off in the long term.
When asked about the bouncing issue, Leclerc replied that it was “a little bit better” from FP3 onwards, which is why they reverted to the old package. Leclerc will start the British GP from 11th place, attributing his struggles to not having the rubber in the optimum window at the Vale chicane. He hopes that the expected rain will arrive to mix up proceedings and present Ferrari with opportunities to make up ground. “Anything can help us,” he said. “The worst thing will be a normal race with the same strategy for everybody. So, I’m welcoming the rain. That would help us.“
Today’s Formula 1 news highlights Ferrari’s continued struggles with the bouncing issue, which has cost them precious performance since Leclerc’s victory in Monaco. Despite this, Leclerc remains optimistic that the experiments conducted during the British GP will provide valuable lessons for the team’s future success.
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