MIAMI, Fla. — The Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix on Saturday was certainly a memorable day for Charles Leclerc.
While heading to the starting grid for the sprint race, Leclerc struggled with a set of wet intermediate tires, causing him to slide off the racing line and into the barriers, ultimately exiting the sprint race prematurely.
Later, during the qualifiers for the Miami Grand Prix, Leclerc managed to secure a position on the fourth row, ending up behind both Williams drivers after the session.
In his media appearance, a visibly frustrated Leclerc reflected on his experience with the sprint race accumulation.
“I mean, I’ve been through it quite a bit. Honestly, I could drive about 100 times and there’s very little I could change as a driver,” Leclerc commented. “Going out first on [intermediate] tires was a mistake. We should have assessed the track conditions better, and that was a team oversight.”
“I don’t want to dwell on it, but this was clearly a significant error that set us back. It’s been tough on me too, as I haven’t completed as many laps as the others, which made today challenging overall, but I don’t believe I paid the price for it.”
Leclerc then shifted focus to his qualifying performance.
“In qualifying, we’re simply not quick enough,” the Ferrari driver stated.
“We need to investigate some inconsistencies from our side. I had to make significant changes to the car and the setup just to achieve the balance I prefer. It felt very different, so we need to figure out what went wrong.”
What’s really frustrating for Leclerc right now? He feels he’s pushing the SF-25 to its limits, yet the results aren’t reflecting that effort. He may sense that he’s performing at his best, but the timesheet suggests otherwise.
“Honestly, this weekend hasn’t felt good, and that’s probably even more frustrating, especially since we believe we’re maximizing the car’s potential.”
“The car simply isn’t performing as it should, and even though I felt great about my qualifying lap, finishing P8 doesn’t reflect that.”
“Yeah, I think we need to look into that.”
Leclerc pointed out that the characteristics of the Miami track, particularly its slow corners, expose the current shortcomings of the SF-25 compared to the competition.
“Tracks like this really showcase our weaknesses. There are many slow sections, and seeing Williams ahead of us is telling. I think my performance was solid, but it’s clear where we’re lacking.”
“We’re not fast, and despite trying various strategies with the car, we just don’t have the downforce that others possess, particularly in slow-speed corners.”
And with that, Leclerc departed to contemplate another disappointing Saturday.
