Charles Leclerc outshined everyone with a super close qualifying time, beating Sergio Perez by just 0.011 seconds!
- Sergio Perez had his best qualifying since April.
- Perez started from the front row due to a penalty for Verstappen.
- Leclerc mastered the straights while Perez excelled in corners.
- Perez drove with used tires, which may have cost him time.
In an edge-of-your-seat qualifying session, Charles Leclerc managed to outqualify Sergio Perez by a hair—just 0.011 seconds. This impressive feat highlights Leclerc’s skill and the potent performance of the Ferrari car.
Sergio Perez had his strongest qualifying performance since the Chinese Grand Prix in April. Despite the challenging weather conditions at Spa-Francorchamps, he finished third on a set of used intermediate tires, a vital moment in his career with Red Bull.
Due to Max Verstappen receiving a 10-place grid penalty, Perez was promoted to the front row with only Leclerc ahead of him. This gave Red Bull some hope despite Verstappen’s setback.
Leclerc’s Ferrari was particularly speedy on the straights, giving him the edge he needed. Meanwhile, Perez showed dominance in both high-speed and low-speed corners, as indicated by their sector times and telemetry data.
During a crucial moment at the Les Fagnes chicane, just before the end of Sector 2, Perez lost valuable time, which allowed Leclerc to regain the lead on the long straight in Sector 3.
Perez had set up his car with a higher aerodynamic load to gain time in Sector 2, while Leclerc went for a lower downforce setup, favoring speed on the straights.
Interestingly, Perez did not have a second set of intermediate tires, unlike Leclerc and other top drivers. He completed Q3 on used tires, which hampered his performance in the corners and cost him crucial milliseconds.
Despite these challenges, Perez finished ahead of McLaren, securing a strong chance to fight for the lead early in the race. This performance could provide Red Bull with some much-needed stability.
Leclerc’s razor-thin edge over Perez showcases his skill and Ferrari’s capabilities.
Source: Planetf1
