Charles Leclerc expressed disappointment with the wet weather conditions that hindered his ability to showcase his progress in one-lap conditions during the Sprint Qualifying at the Chinese Grand Prix. The Monegasque driver had been struggling with low fuel in recent races but had gained confidence after testing in Ferrari’s simulator in Maranello. Leclerc demonstrated his optimism in the first two segments, finishing just one-tenth behind the fastest time in SQ2. However, he was unable to replicate this performance in the rain.
Leclerc’s difficulties began when he spun on his initial out lap at Turn 6 and made contact with the barrier, forcing him to return to the pits. Despite recovering from this incident and posting the third fastest time, Leclerc ended up in seventh place, two positions and four-tenths of a second behind his Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz. Reflecting on the challenging conditions, Leclerc admitted that the first out lap was extremely tricky and it was difficult to get the tires up to temperature. He acknowledged that his aggressive approach led to the loss of control at Turn 8, which compromised his qualifying session.
While Leclerc was not satisfied with his performance in qualifying, he acknowledged the progress he had made in dry conditions. He had focused on tire preparation and believed that it had paid off to some extent. Looking ahead to the race, Leclerc remained optimistic but acknowledged the uncertainty of the outcome. He looked forward to the opportunity to prove that he had overcome his struggles in one-lap situations with the Ferrari SF-24 car.
The Sprint race, which precedes the traditional qualifying session, will provide Leclerc with another chance to showcase his abilities. With dry conditions expected, he hoped to maximize his performance and make up for the missed opportunity in qualifying. Leclerc recognized the importance of the Sprint race and the subsequent main race, emphasizing the need to perform well in both to achieve a positive result.