F1 News: Charles Leclerc Explains His Spanish GP Ferrari Failure - "Something Strange"
In qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix, Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc was found trailing the pack. He clocked the 19th fastest time, landing him in the penultimate place on the grid of Sunday's race. The unexpected performance left fans and critics alike puzzled, as the driver himself struggled to identify the root of the problems.
While addressing media after the race, Leclerc shared:
"I don’t have the answers now. I think we'll have to check the data, but most of all check the car because there was definitely something strange.
"The left-hand corners were really, really bad with the rear right. And I first thought that it was the tyres, so we went for a new set of tyres.
"And on the new set of tyres it was exactly the same feeling."
Leclerc further explained that he found the right-hand corners manageable with the RB19. However, he remained puzzled, stating:
"We'll have to check, but I would be very, very surprised if we don't find something on the car."
The concerning performance has sparked speculation about whether Ferrari might choose to have Leclerc start from the pit lane on Sunday if a significant issue is detected and a repair necessary.
Amid the high-stress moment, Leclerc also had to stop on the FIA weighbridge for a routine check, losing some time in the process. Despite the setback, he did not believe the time lost affected his overall performance. He confessed:
"To be honest, I don't think it would have made it any better. We were just completely slow. I was not even that surprised when they told me I was out of Q1."
There are certainly more questions here than answers, but it's safe to say that Ferrari has a lot of work on their hands tonight to make sure Leclerc can make the most of tomorrow and potentially make his way back into the points.