Not an optimal qualification in China for Charles Leclerc and Ferrari in general. Once again the Maranello team showed its weakness in Q3, with the Monegasque who finished 6th.
Unexpected qualifying result in China for Leclerc
The qualifying result forces Ferrari to make a comeback race not only on Red Bulls, but also on McLarens and Fernando Alonso.
If in Q1 and Q2 the cut was passed with ease, Q3 highlighted the real performance on the flying lap bringing an unexpected sixth place, according to Leclerc on the microphones of sky sports f1:
“We are struggling in the first sector, things went better and we took a step forward. I don't think it's the fault of the tire preparation, that is a truly particular sector. We have a good setup for tomorrow, we sacrificed something for the race. I didn't expect this result, in Q1 the feeling was good. It's a shame because in a tenth and a half we could have gone further in the standings. In Q3 due to the wind we lost the good sensations."
Qualification sacrificed for the race
If after the Sprint Race – finished in 4th place but with the best times at the end – there was the awareness that doing well in qualifying could put the race in a good direction, the outcome made everything more difficult. Even if, as Charles recalls, the podium objective is concrete:
“Sunday counts, the situation can be reversed tomorrow. The goal is the podium, if there isn't a train of DRS I'm confident I can do it. It won't be easy but we will try."
