Charles Leclerc has downplayed Ferrari’s probabilities of hanging onto the lead of the Belgian Grand Prix after inheriting pole place from Max Verstappen.
Leclerc put collectively an awesome remaining lap in Q3 to pip Sergio Perez to second behind Verstappen.
Nonetheless, Leclerc will begin Sunday’s race at Spa-Francorchamps from pole place as a result of an engine penalty for Verstappen.
Leclerc began final yr’s race within the lead – additionally inheriting pole from Verstappen – however misplaced out to Perez initially.
With out the moist situations, Leclerc feels fifth would have been an excellent outcome for Ferrari.
Talking after qualifying at Spa, the place Crash.internet are current within the paddock, he mentioned: “No, I am very stunned. And really, even once I completed the lap, I did not really feel prefer it was price a second place. I imply, it was an excellent lap, a clear lap, and that is what you want in these situations.
“And I imagine that particularly while you get to Q3 within the final lap, everyone is aware of that that is the lap, and that pushes individuals to possibly do extra errors. On my aspect, it was a clear lap, however not an unimaginable lap. So yeah, I am very joyful to be P2 however I positively didn’t count on that.
“I believe as a group right this moment P5 could have been a little bit of an excellent outcome and right this moment we’re P2 and tomorrow we will probably be beginning on pole. In order that’s an excellent factor. However as I mentioned we haven’t any magical resolution for the race tempo and it will likely be a little bit of a tough day tomorrow.”
Since profitable the Monaco Grand Prix again in Could, Ferrari have struggled for type.
Bouncing has been on the core of Ferrari’s issues, with an improve launched in Barcelona making the problem worse.
Leclerc revealed that had qualifying been dry, it could have doubtless impacted Ferrari once more.
“At the moment, it was effective. However clearly, in moist situations, it is at all times slightly bit much less of a problem,” he added. “Yesterday, we struggled a bit extra with it. However I do not count on this to be a problem tomorrow in the course of the race.
“So this can be a optimistic. So yeah. But when it was a dry quali, I’d have anticipated it to be a bit extra of a battle for us.”
