Charles Leclerc expressed his frustration as he failed to reach Q3 for the second consecutive race, finishing qualifying in P11 for the Canadian Grand Prix. The Monegasque driver found himself circulating the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in mixed conditions during the Q2 segment of qualifying. With half of the track wet and half dry, Leclerc radioed Ferrari, urging them to switch to slick tires, a decision also made by Williams driver Alex Albon.
However, Leclerc’s request was not immediately acted upon. While Albon managed to top the segment and advance to Q3, Leclerc stayed out on intermediates before finally switching to slicks, which pushed him into the drop zone. Frustrated by the outcome, Leclerc expressed his disappointment and highlighted the need for improvement within the team.
Leclerc vented his frustration on the team radio, exclaiming, “Yeah, tires were not ready. Come on!” His mood did not improve during the media session, where he expressed his dissatisfaction with the qualifying session. Although Leclerc acknowledged that tires were not the only factor, he believed that the team’s decisions were making their lives more difficult.
The Monegasque driver emphasized the need for immediate improvement, stating, “We need to improve now.” Leclerc felt that the team had not followed his intuition during the session, leading to their challenging situation. He expressed his frustration and disappointment with the outcome, but remained determined to deliver a strong race performance on Sunday.
When asked about his upcoming debrief with Ferrari, Leclerc stated that he would discuss the situation privately with the team. However, he stressed the importance of open communication and the need for improvement in similar conditions, as this was not the first time they found themselves on the wrong side of decisions.
Leclerc’s teammate Carlos Sainz also faced challenges in qualifying, managing only P8 on the grid after crashing in Free Practice 3. He was then handed a three-place grid penalty for impeding Pierre Gasly in Q1, dropping him behind Leclerc for the Canadian Grand Prix.
The disappointment in qualifying highlights the urgency for Ferrari to address their decision-making process and improve their performance to meet Leclerc’s expectations. The team will aim to rectify their mistakes and deliver a stronger showing in the upcoming race.
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