Charles Leclerc: “We didn’t have the pace to challenge the McLarens.”
A solid and stable race: that's how one can sum up Charles Leclerc's Sunday at Suzuka. The Monegasque driver may have hoped for something better than a fourth place, but the McLarens were simply out of reach.
Finishing fourth in Suzuka, Charles Leclerc crossed the finish line in the same position, proof of his consistency during the Japanese Grand Prix. He couldn’t challenge the McLarens, who were in a league of their own, but this time he outperformed his teammate Carlos Sainz (P6, behind Lewis Hamilton and ahead of George Russell).
Nevertheless, let us note a surreal moment on Sunday: Charles Leclerc thought that Max Verstappen had retired, therefore believing he could step onto the third step of the podium… Until the last lap, when he saw the ranking displayed on the pitlane wall: he was indeed in fourth place. The Monegasque confused the Dutchman with his teammate Sergio Perez.
Despite this disappointment, Charles Leclerc believes it was a good race, especially considering the significant tire degradation he suffered earlier in the season. “Even though I am not completely satisfied with my 4th place, we achieved the best possible result today. McLaren was strong and we simply did not have the pace to challenge them more intensely,” he admits.
The Monegasque also praises the performance of George Russell, with whom he had a few altercations. “I had a good battle with George (Russell), who managed his tires remarkably well, especially the rear ones, which made it difficult to overtake him. I took advantage of an opportunity at the first corner to pass him, and it went well,” he explained.
Charles Leclerc also believes that this weekend has allowed them to gather valuable knowledge about the car. “We have refined our understanding of this car and what we have learned will be useful for the future. It will be interesting to follow the progress of our competitors in the upcoming races.”
