He didn't win, but he's the driver of the day. Thanks to a strategy different from others, Charles Leclerc finishes the Japanese GP in fourth place and is redeemed after a qualification below expectations.
Leclerc, happy but not too happy with his result
Starting eighth, the Monegasque was the only one to have made just one stop. The red flag at the start of the race was an unknown with possible changes in strategy. Ferrari took advantage of this mainly with Charles.
The further back starting position allowed the team to take risks, so much so Leclerc pitted on lap 26 thanks to excellent management of the medium tire in the first stint. This allowed him to gain positions. Had he stopped like the others, he would have lost three positions.
Here are the words of Charles Leclerc post race to the microphones of Sky Sports F1 Italy:
I'm very happy with the race pace, we've always had the right feeling since the beginning of the year. Obviously I'm not happy with the result, I would have to stay at home if I was happy with a fourth place.
Qualification to be improved
With the positive race pace, Leclerc's Japanese GP was compromised on Saturday. As the Monegasque explained:
Qualifying yesterday didn't go well, but even in Australia I struggled to get the tires up to temperature. Qualifying has always been my strong point, so we have to work to understand what's not good about my outlap. The problem is right there, because the ride itself is good.
It is clear that Ferrari is not performing as well as last year in qualifying. Improving the race pace, the Maranello team dropped on the flying lap. However, Leclerc highlights a difficulty he has, and China could be the circuit in which he can put into practice what he will learn during this stop.
