F1 | Leclerc: “I knew we would pay in qualifying to favor the race”

Saturday in Shanghai was not particularly exciting for the Ferraris. After falling off the podium in the Sprint, complete with contact and tension between Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz at the end, the SF-24s were unable to attack the first two rows of the starting grid of the Chinese Grand Prix: the The Monegasque will start from sixth place and the Spaniard from seventh.

A situation that could complicate the Rossa's plans a bit. As Leclerc explained to Sky Sport F1, even if most of the gap was felt in the first sector, this time it was not so much a question of tire preparation but of setting choices made more with a view to the race than to the race. qualification.

“Today I believe it wasn't all a question of tire preparation, because we made a step in this aspect. It's more a question of the characteristics of the first sector: I knew that in qualifying we would leave some performance there to favor the tomorrow's race. We have a good set-up, it's just a shame that we were all there in a tenth and a half”, explained Leclerc.

When he was then asked if we could speak of a disappointment for this qualifying, however, he added: “Yes, because I didn't expect this situation. In Q1 the feeling was quite good, then in Q3 the wind changed and we lost a bit. ' the feeling with the car”.

However, the belief is that we can reverse the situation tomorrow, even if a less close race would be needed compared to this morning's Sprint: “It's Sunday that counts. I often said it last year when we were happy on Saturday and disappointed on Sunday Tomorrow's goal is the podium, even if it won't be easy, especially if there is a race like this morning, in which we were all on the train with the DRS. If that isn't the case, it will be very difficult. I think we can have a good race.”

Finally, Charles revealed that there has already been a clarification between him and Sainz after the Sprint contact and that the team has already put the matter behind them: “Yes, yes, there are no problems.”