Leclerc leaves Canada with a smile
Although not on the podium, Charles Leclerc proved to be satisfied with his weekend in Canada. The Ferrari driver was able to benefit from a good strategy to fight for the forefront.
Just like in the last Grand Prix in Spain, Charles Leclerc was noticeably absent from Q3. Blaming his team for not listening to him and putting soft tires on him in Q2, it was once again a frustrated Charles Leclerc who joined the interview panel after the qualifying session.
Starting 10th on the grid following Carlos Sainz’s penalty, the Monegasque had a very good start, immediately overtaking Alexander Albon’s Williams. This overtake proved to be crucial considering the ability that the Thai driver had to keep a whole pack behind his rear wing.
But it was when the safety car came out that Leclerc’s race truly changed its dynamic. Indeed, while many drivers like Ocon and Albon, as well as the two McLarens, took advantage of the situation to dive into the pits, the two prancing horses decided to stay out on track and extend their first stint on medium tyres. Since the Ferraris only had one set of new hard tyres left, this strategic decision was more of a constraint than a real choice, but it truly allowed the red cars to break free from the midfield. The improvements made by the Vasseur’s team in recent weeks seem to have paid off. The Ferraris finished less than 20 seconds behind the winner.
It was clearly the right strategy. I’m quite happy with this race today. We started from quite far back, so it was difficult to do better than 4th. It’s mainly the performance and the feeling with the car that puts a smile on my face. We had the right strategy to stay out during the safety car, which allowed us to gain a lot of positions. It was a positive day.
« It gives me hope, because since Friday I have the feeling that we are heading in a direction that gives me more comfort behind the wheel, and this impression was confirmed today. We must not forget that this track is special and that we will have to confirm it in Austria. »
Hope is needed for the Monégasque who currently holds a disappointing 7th position in the driver’s championship. Having lacked opportunities and success in the early part of the season, Charles Leclerc has almost half the points of Lewis Hamilton, who occupies the 4th position. This is only the second time this season that Leclerc has finished in the Top 5. The first time was his podium finish in Baku.
