Charles Leclerc is banking on Ferrari’s race tempo to assist him problem for victory in tomorrow’s System 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
The Monegasque took a considerably shocking second place on the grid in Baku, with the Scuderia trying off the tempo throughout a lot of free observe.
Baku‘s lengthy straights was prone to be a big Achilles’ heel for the SF-26, as straightline velocity typically has been on many quick circuits this season.
However Leclerc managed to search out some additional velocity from tows at an excellent second to take a entrance row spot, albeit eight tenths of a second adrift of George Russell.
However talking after qualifying, Leclerc admitted that the deficit to Russell didn’t bode nicely.
“Effectively, I felt connected as nicely, however perhaps to not the best hook after I see the hole with George,” he stated. “It’s fairly a big hole. So, sure, I imply, the automobile felt higher than what it felt for the remainder of the weekend.
“We’ve had our struggles this weekend and we had been positively not as aggressive. However as George stated, I feel it’s very troublesome to get these tyres in the best window, and notably this weekend. I feel most likely McLaren and ourselves had been a bit in the identical boat, the place we had been actually struggling in free observe.
“Some laps had been good, however by no means actually persistently there. And in qualifying I felt like we did a greater job in that. However, yeah, it’s all relative, and eight tenths and a half is so much. So, there are many issues that we must always take a look at and attempt to enhance, notably as a result of our weak spot usually is straight-line velocity, however as we speak Sector 2 can also be the place George made the distinction.”
Charles Leclerc casts hope for race day enchancment from ‘unpredictable’ Ferrari
Leclerc lamented the Ferrari’s incapability to present him consolation to assault the Baku Metropolis Circuit, the place each inch is essential, and will additionally imply the distinction between a clear lap and an accident.
“Total, the predictability of the automobile this weekend it has been very troublesome,” he stated. “Usually, I really feel like certainly one of my strengths coming right here is being very exact and taking a variety of danger with the space to the wall.
“This weekend I simply couldn’t try this as a result of the automobile was was not precisely reacting the best way I needed. It was simply fairly unpredictable.
“I nonetheless had that unpredictability in qualifying. It received higher, however I couldn’t take the… yeah, I needed to take a bit extra margin in comparison with what I normally do right here.
Requested whether or not he feels he can take a victory tomorrow, Leclerc planted his hopes on the SF-26’s ordinary race day enhancements to present him an opportunity to problem Russell.
“We’ll strive, and we’ll do our greatest,” he stated. “Whether or not that will probably be sufficient, solely time will inform. However we all know that now we have an excellent race automobile, most of the time higher within the race than in qualifying, and I hope that it is going to be the case once more this weekend.”
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