Leclerc’s Disappointment After P8 Qualifying at Canadian Grand Prix
Charles Leclerc expressed significant disappointment following a lackluster qualifying session for the Canadian Grand Prix, ending the session in eighth place. Despite showcasing potential with a purple first sector on his final lap in Q3, Leclerc was hindered by a snap at Turn 7, which he attributed to the turbulent air from Isack Hadjar’s Racing Bulls car ahead of him.
The Monegasque driver was undeterred by a crash in FP1 that necessitated a survival cell replacement, stating it had minimal impact on his overall performance. "From FP3 onwards, I felt good," Leclerc asserted, emphasizing that he made no changes to his setup since his initial laps in FP1. "I’m just very, very disappointed with Q3 because I think that the beginning of the lap was good enough to be fighting for pole position," he added.
Leclerc took time after the session to speak with Hadjar, clarifying that while the rookie’s dirty air affected his lap, he did not hold him responsible. "I don’t think he’s done anything wrong… sometimes depending on where you catch a car, this can have a big influence on the lap," he commented.
Looking forward to the race, Leclerc remains optimistic about his chances for a podium finish, contingent upon making swift progress in the early laps. "I want to target the podium,” he stated. “But it all depends on how quickly we are going to get past the others."
As the F1 circuit heads into the race, Leclerc’s strategic positioning and reflective insights on qualifying set the stage for an intriguing contest at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
