Charles Leclerc: “Mistakes in my driving style that do not favor the car and make me lose confidence.”
Charles Leclerc admitted to have been completely out of pace during the sprint on Saturday, primarily due to the changing conditions.
After starting the sprint race from 9th position, following a 3-place penalty for impeding Oscar Piastri, Charles Leclerc could only manage 12th place on Saturday, while his teammate Carlos Sainz finished on the third step of the podium.
The Monégasque takes responsibility and admits to difficulties in finding the rhythm in a race with changing conditions, half wet and half dry.
“It was a hectic but slow race, I was completely out of rhythm. We need to understand why, because it’s the third consecutive race where we find ourselves in these conditions, and I keep facing difficulties. It seems that I always make mistakes in my driving style that don’t benefit the car and make me lose confidence. It’s really frustrating,” he explained in an interview after the race.
A podium this Sunday?
He indicates, however, that he will work hard to come back in a stronger position and hopes for stable conditions for the race this Sunday. “If it rains again tomorrow and we are faced with conditions that are partly dry and partly wet, it will again affect my confidence. On the other hand, if it is completely dry or completely wet, it won’t be a problem because I know we perform well in these conditions and I feel comfortable. It is these intermediate conditions that pose a problem.”
The Monegasque remains optimistic for tomorrow, without excessive confidence, however: “I am confident that tomorrow I will be able to fight for the podium, but for the victory, it’s a different story. I expect Red Bull and Max to be stronger again,” he concludes. The Dutchman seems indeed untouchable since the beginning of the season…
