Leclerc not surprised after Q1 elimination: 'Have no answers now'

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leclerc reaction after qualifying 2023 Spanish Grand Prix
3 June 2023 at 16:40

Charles Leclerc drove the 19th fastest time in qualifying, forcing him to start Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix from the penultimate place at least. The Ferrari driver had hoped for more but suddenly suffered problems. Where exactly it was lacking, he finds it difficult to say. What is clear, according to the Monegasque, is that something was wrong somewhere.

Once he arrived in square one, Leclerc told GPblog and others: "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."

The 25-year-old driver went on to state that the right-hand corners did feel good with the RB19. "We'll have to check, but I would be very, very surprised if we don't find something on the car." If something really significant is found, Ferrari may choose to have Leclerc start from the pit lane on Sunday.

Leclerc not surprised

Before going to get new tyres, Leclerc also had to visit the FIA weighbridge for a routine check. There, the Ferrari driver also lost some time, but it made little difference to the final result in the end. "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."