Charles Leclerc prepares to tackle the United States Grand Prix from fourth on the grid, aware that the race in Austin could prove more promising than the qualification. The Monegasque Ferrari driver closed Q3 with a time that placed him behind teammate Carlos Sainz and the two cars of Lando Norris and Max Verstappen. However, Leclerc knows that the true potential of the SF-24 is best seen in the race, as already seen during the Sprint on Saturday.
Solid, but not exceptional qualifications
Leclerc acknowledged that his fourth place in qualifying in Austin best reflects the potential of the car in qualifying, especially considering the problems he had in the first sector of the Texan track. “We made few changes between Sprint and qualifying, because I was quite happy with the setup in the mini-race. We tried to maximise the result today, and I think third and fourth were the maximum we could achieve,” the Monegasque driver told Sky Sport F1.
The main problem remains the first sector of the Circuit of the Americas, where the SF-24 struggled to find the right balance. Leclerc stressed that the team was unable to completely resolve this difficulty, and therefore preferred not to change the set-up too much. “We haven’t found the solution for the first sector yet, but on the rest of the track the car behaves well, and this gives us confidence for the race,” explained Leclerc.
Duel with Sainz and challenge with the big names
Ahead of the race, Leclerc’s main rival could be his teammate Carlos Sainz, with whom he shared several tense moments during the Sprint Race. Leclerc and Sainz battled it out in the early stages of the mini-race, in a battle that, if repeated on Sunday, could cost Ferrari dearly. “The most important thing is to avoid clashes between us,” Leclerc stressed, “we must aim to maximise the team’s result and exploit the race pace of the SF-24.”
Ferrari has shown good pace over the long distance, and Leclerc knows that the race could bring some surprises. With Norris in McLaren and Verstappen in Red Bull ahead, the Monegasque will have to play his cards right, trying to put pressure on his two rivals and exploit any mistakes or problems his opponents may have. “We need to focus on a clean start and then see how the race evolves,” added Leclerc, who knows full well that the chances of fighting for the podium are not lacking.
Confidence for the race
Despite the difficulties in qualifying, Leclerc remains optimistic for Sunday's race. "The grid position is important, but I think our race pace will allow us to be competitive. If we can maintain a good pace and avoid mistakes, we can get a good result," concluded the Ferrari driver.
Leclerc’s fourth place is a solid base to build on, but the real challenge will be to maintain control of the race and, if possible, find an opening to attack the leaders. The SF-24 has the potential to do well, and Leclerc will be determined to take every opportunity to aim for a prestigious result.
Source statements: SkySportF1
