Charles Leclerc’s choice during the Spanish Grand Prix qualifiers didn’t quite hit the mark, putting him in a spot he’s not thrilled about.
The celebrated Monegasque driver, Charles Leclerc, found himself owning up to his strategy when he qualified for the Spanish GP. Despite showing great pace during practice, Leclerc’s decision to go against his Ferrari team’s strategy advice led to him starting the race in seventh place, a position he believes doesn’t reflect his true capabilities.
Leclerc had opted to use an additional set of soft tires during practice, which left him with just one new set of softs for Q3. The suggested plan from his Ferrari team was straightforward: use the older softs to secure a base lap time, then prepare for another attempt with fresh tires. Leclerc, however, decided to follow his instinct.
In his words, the choice to conduct his flying lap ‘in the middle’ of Q3 was entirely his. Ferrari had urged him to wait and execute towards the end of the session, but he wanted the safety net of a Plan B — another lap if his first one failed to go as planned. Leclerc explained, ‘I take full responsibility for the way the qualifying has gone. It was my choice.’ Despite this, he held onto the belief that reserving better tires for the race could pay dividends, albeit at the risk of a weekend marred by a poor performance.
Adding to the predicament was the disparity between Leclerc’s hopes after practice and the actual results. He described a feeling of optimism after the initial sessions, buoyed by new technical directives that seemed to merge well with his Ferrari SF-25. Yet, as qualifying unfolded, he noted how the car’s performance returned to its ‘normal’ state, falling short during the critical moments against competitors like McLaren.
Leclerc admitted to being slightly disappointed with his seventh-place start — a standing that didn’t align with his expectations despite his strategic choices. He remained hopeful, asserting, ‘If tomorrow we have a very bad race, then I have to take the responsibility of a bad weekend. If it goes well, then I’m happy to take the credit of pushing the team one way. But only time will tell.’
He also expressed optimism about the forward steps the team was making, feeling his car had felt somewhat better, even if the data wasn’t adding up perfectly. Ultimately, he prepared to begin the race just behind teammate Lewis Hamilton, facing the daunting task of climbing up the ranks in Sunday’s Grand Prix.
Ultimately, Charles Leclerc’s risk-taking move during qualifying showcased his desire to push boundaries, but it also highlighted the thin line between strategic genius and costly miscalculation. As he sits poised for the Spanish GP, the outcome will define whether this risk was a mistake or a bold gamble that paid off.
