Though the Components 1 dash race at Zandvoort produced little or no motion, Charles Leclerc was chargeable for one of many few overtakes. The Monegasque managed to go Lando Norris for second place, the place he ultimately completed.
In accordance with Leclerc, that overtake primarily took place due to variations in deployment, though given Leclerc’s tyre selection, it was nonetheless outstanding that he was capable of full a go on lap 18 of 24.
In spite of everything, Leclerc was considered one of solely two drivers who opted to start out the shortest race of the weekend on delicate tyres. That selection was based mostly on knowledge from apply and the truth that Ferrari usually appears to be like good by way of tyre degradation this weekend, at the very least on Leclerc’s facet.
However, Leclerc admitted he was considerably involved on the grid when he noticed all of the drivers round him lining up on mediums.
“At all times when you find yourself the one one doing one thing, it’s both very proper or very improper,” Leclerc smiled.
“I feel it was a good selection in the long run, in order that’s optimistic. It signifies that we did our homework effectively in FP1, however certainly once I was on the grid, I simply hoped to have made the appropriate selection.”
Leclerc stunned the opposite groups by sustaining a superb race tempo even on the finish of the dash race
Picture by: Simon Galloway / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
The choice was made along with the staff, though Leclerc stresses that it was not a simple one.
“Properly, it wasn’t as a result of we had Lewis [Hamilton] and I on two completely different methods. So certainly it wasn’t apparent.
“However I assumed that it was a superb tyre after FP1, regardless that I had completed only a few laps and I wasn’t so snug with the medium. So yeah, I used to be proud of that selection.”
Pirelli already indicated on Friday that the C3 and C4 are pretty shut by way of sturdiness, with solely the toughest compound obtainable this weekend, the C2, representing a big step.
Why Leclerc feels qualifying is a weak point Ferrari can’t repair in Zandvoort
Other than the tyre selection, the dash primarily underlined what Leclerc already thought on Friday: Ferrari’s race tempo is nice, however qualifying is proving tougher.
“I feel our tempo had been fairly sturdy yesterday in FP1 on the lengthy runs, which we did on the medium, so we knew we had a superb race automobile.
“Nonetheless, in qualifying we’re missing a little bit bit. I used to be anticipating to make positions firstly moderately than on the finish of the race with these delicate tyres, however yeah, it was fairly a superb race.”
Leclerc impressed on Friday with the third-fastest time, however nonetheless believes qualifying is considered one of Ferrari’s weaknesses
Picture by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Pictures through Getty Pictures
Because the deployment methods converge, Leclerc believes overtaking will likely be just about unattainable at Zandvoort. That makes qualifying place essential and raises the query of whether or not Ferrari might sacrifice some race tempo with a purpose to enhance its pace over a single lap.
“I feel we regularly discuss methods to make a automobile quicker for a race or qualifying, however I do not assume it is that black and white,” Leclerc mentioned when requested by Motorsport.com.
“I feel you at all times attempt to make the automobile as quick as attainable, and for those who try this, then that is optimistic for qualifying and the race. Then there are slight finetuning issues that you are able to do, however I would not say it is a sport changer, it is not at all times black and white.
“So, to answer to your query, I do not assume there’s something we are able to do in the meanwhile to repair it and have a greater automobile in qualifying. We all know it’s a weak point, however we simply did not discover the answer simply but.”
Regardless of Leclerc describing qualifying as a weak point for Ferrari, he nonetheless managed to safe third on the grid for the dash, simply 0.055 seconds behind polesitter George Russell.
Nonetheless, a repeat is way from assured, he stresses, as Leclerc’s SQ3 lap was notably sturdy.
“I feel yesterday I did a very good lap and the automobile felt actually good as effectively. So I will be stunned if we begin from pole tomorrow, however I will do every part in my energy to make it occur.”
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