Formula 1 Emilia Romagna GP
Unhappy Leclerc rues run choices in Imola F1 qualifying
Formula 1 world championship leader Charles Leclerc says the wrong run plan choice for qualifying at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix left him unhappy to be beaten to pole position.
Jonathan Noble
Edited: Apr 23, 2022, 12:39 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The Ferrari driver had looked to have the edge in pace during the early stages of qualifying but, in the crucial first Q3 runs, it was the strategy options he and Max Verstappen took that proved crucial.
With the Imola track drying out, it was clear that the fastest laps of the session would likely come at the very end.
So, after an early banker lap, Leclerc elected to back off for a cool down lap to recharge his battery and prepare tyres for a later effort rather than push on for a second attempt.
Verstappen duly did a second push run to grab pole position, and Leclerc’s hopes of then being able to be respond were dashed by a spate of red flags and a late downpour.
Reflecting on how qualifying had progressed, Leclerc said: “It was all about putting the laps in and waiting for Q3 to put everything together.
“This is why it's even more frustrating for me, because when it counts in Q3, I did the wrong choice. But it's life. We'll learn from it and, at the end, P2 is not a disaster.”
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, is interviewed after Qualifying
Photo by: Carl Bingham / Motorsport Images
With Ferrari having been the pace-setter so far this season, Leclerc had little doubt that he had the potential to go for pole position.
“I am not happy,” he told F1. “I think we had the pace. We were very strong all session.
“I did one lap [in Q3] which was strong and I decided to abort the second one just to prepare the tyres for the last two, because warm-up is quite a thing.
“I wanted to have the last two laps at the end of the session but it never happened because of the red flag. So it is like this.
“But Max did an incredible job. Fair play to him. P2 is not bad in the end, it is disappointing because I wanted to be on pole but that’s the way it is.”
Read Also:
- How Mercedes is chasing “painful” F1 issues that are slowing Hamilton
- Sainz ‘wasn’t pushing that hard’ before Imola F1 qualifying crash
- Norris "could have gotten Leclerc" for Imola F1 front row
Although overtaking at Imola is not easy, Leclerc saw little reason to think that he had no chance of moving forward with both a sprint race and the main grand prix to come.
“I like to dream, but we need to focus on our job and not try to overdo things,” he said when asked if he was imagining a victory.
“I keep saying it, but I think it’s very important this weekend. So let’s keep pushing but for now we have the potential to do so [win].”
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article How Mercedes is chasing “painful” F1 issues that are slowing Hamilton
Next article Binotto: Sainz has to manage pressure of racing front-running F1 car
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jonathan Noble
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
Formula 1
Formula 1
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Formula 1
Formula 1
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
More from
Charles Leclerc
George Russell predicts key Ferrari "advantage" at F1 Mexican GP
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
14 h
George Russell predicts key Ferrari "advantage" at F1 Mexican GP
The mistakes that cost Lewis Hamilton a podium at F1’s US GP
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
The mistakes that cost Lewis Hamilton a podium at F1’s US GP
More from
Scuderia Ferrari
Charles Leclerc and Pecco Bagnaia: From kings to princes
MotoGP
MotoGP
Charles Leclerc and Pecco Bagnaia: From kings to princes
Sainz blasts "most unfair penalty ever", seeks stewards' explanation
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Sainz blasts "most unfair penalty ever", seeks stewards' explanation
Calado: "Difficult" for WEC Hypercar newcomers "to win straight off"
WEC
WEC
Calado: "Difficult" for WEC Hypercar newcomers "to win straight off"
Latest news
What's behind "absolute nonsense" Oliver Bearman contract rumours
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
50 min
What's behind "absolute nonsense" Oliver Bearman contract rumours
F1 Mexico GP: Follow FP2 with live timing
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
1 h
F1 Mexico GP: Follow FP2 with live timing
F1 Mexico GP: Charles Leclerc beats Kimi Antonelli to top FP1
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
3 h
F1 Mexico GP: Charles Leclerc beats Kimi Antonelli to top FP1
What Fernando Alonso is getting wrong about F1 driving standards
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
4 h
What Fernando Alonso is getting wrong about F1 driving standards
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe