Ferrari driver coach Jock Clear believes Carlos Sainz’s triumph on the Singapore Grand Prix final yr “actually harm” Charles Leclerc.
Sainz transformed pole into victory – the one non-Purple Bull win of the yr in 2023.
The Spaniard put collectively a masterclass on the Marina Bay Avenue Circuit as he intentionally allowed Lando Norris to remain in DRS vary to fend off the 2 Mercedes behind.
Leclerc, who tended to have the sting in qualifying over Sainz, couldn’t capitalise on Purple Bull’s off weekend.
Nonetheless, since then, it’s been Leclerc – other than Australia – who has typically been within the ascendancy.
Clear believes Singapore was a decisive second for Leclerc.
“I feel he is responded nicely to a really robust crew mate,” Clear stated on the Past the Grid podcast.
“We have lengthy talked in regards to the qualities of Carlos and the actual fact is, Carlos most likely would not fairly have that fringe of tempo that Charles can present in qualifying, however you have a look at Singapore final yr and that actually hit residence to Charles.
“That was a race that Charles would have gone there as a favorite to win. He typically goes there with a number of confidence, and for Carlos to nick that one beneath his nostril actually harm. I feel that kind of factor has made him deal with: ‘okay, I really want to get the job achieved on Sunday.’
“That is to not say he by no means thought that, however it does imply you modify your focus barely, if you happen to take it away from, ‘okay, we simply have to get the perfect qualifying automobile we will and get a qualifying lap, after which it will all occur on a Sunday.’
“I feel you are simply seeing a greater illustration of Charles and of us as a race driver, as a race automobile, as a race crew.”
Clear was additionally fast to level out that discuss round Leclerc’s poor race administration and tyre preservation is a factor of the previous.
“Individuals tended to say to me two or three years in the past, ‘yeah however he’s nowhere close to pretty much as good within the race as he’s in qualifying’,” Clear added. “That’s not likely honest. It’s simply that he’s very, superb at qualifying.
“However, that stated, I feel this yr you’ve gotten seen the results of a growth on the automobile aspect and a growth on the driving force aspect. I feel it is most likely true that we have shifted our focus barely to creating the automobile a greater race automobile.
“Tyre administration is at all times a scorching matter. It is not that Charles traditionally hasn’t been good on tyres. I feel that we, as a mix, have not been centered that nicely on tyres.
“I feel what we have seen this yr is the results of us being extra centered on getting the automobile working rather well within the race and taking care of these tyres, and Charles studying from earlier years and honing these expertise of tyre administration.”
