Canadian Grand Prix Recap: Leclerc’s Frustration with Strategy
Charles Leclerc experienced a challenging outing at the Canadian Grand Prix, finishing in fifth position amid strategic missteps and a difficult qualifying round.
Leclerc noted post-race that the team’s decisions throughout the event were less than optimal, calling the experience "frustrating." He emphasized the issues stemmed mainly from starting position rather than outright pace, stating, “We are a little bit on the back foot, but that’s more to do with the starting position than the actual pace.”
Despite feeling he didn’t perform at his best, Leclerc remained focused on the team’s goals rather than external expectations. “We’re just trying to do our job the best we possibly can,” he said, expressing optimism for the next race.
Team principal Fred Vasseur echoed Leclerc’s sentiments regarding strategy. He admitted that their decision to aim for a 50-lap stint on one set of tires was “too optimistic,” adding that more preparation time may have helped in refining their approach.
Leclerc’s weekend was marred by a crash in Free Practice 1, which resulted in chassis damage and limited his track time as he missed the second practice session. He had shown promise in FP1, leading until a lock-up at Turn 3 led to a red flag. He concluded that session in 10th place.
Qualifying only further compounded his troubles, as he ended in eighth despite feeling capable of contending for pole position. A grip loss at Turn 7 during his final flying lap was attributed to the dirty air from Isack Hadjar’s car ahead.
As Leclerc and the Ferrari team regroup ahead of the next race, the focus will remain on refining their strategy and performance to capitalize on their evident pace potential.
