Charles Leclerc disappointed as Ferrari skips slipstream strategy at Monza. Charles Leclerc was left without a slipstream from Lewis Hamilton in Monza qualifying, finishing fourth.

F1 | Monza GP: Ferrari leaves Leclerc without slipstream – the Monegasque’s disappointment after qualifying

Charles Leclerc was left without the slipstream of teammate Lewis Hamilton during qualifying at the Monza GP, leaving the Monegasque visibly disappointed. Ferrari opted not to use the slipstream strategy in qualifying, sending Charles Leclerc out ahead of Lewis Hamilton on his final Q3 attempt. This could have been the perfect opportunity to secure pole position in front of the passionate Tifosi, but instead, the driver from Monaco will have to settle for fourth place. The decision by the Maranello team is likely to spark debate ahead of the race.

While it was expected to be a Ferrari versus McLaren battle, the session ended with a triumph for Max Verstappen. The Dutch driver set a new track record – the highest average speed ever recorded in Formula 1 at Monza – claiming a masterful pole position. Behind him, a strong Lando Norris outpaced Oscar Piastri, continuing their thrilling championship battle that will likely extend to the season finale. The first Ferrari is found in fourth position.

The session was extremely tight and uncertain until the very end. Mercedes, showing strong pace in both Q1 and Q2, had to settle for fifth and sixth positions with George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The other SF-25, driven by Lewis Hamilton, will start from tenth on the grid due to a penalty. Considering the British driver’s demotion – and his comments on Thursday – Ferrari could have played the slipstream game. However, they chose not to.

Charles Leclerc: “We lacked the right pace”

At the start of the final Q3 attempt, Charles Leclerc went out ahead of Lewis Hamilton and at a significant distance from the car in front. Ferrari’s choice was particularly conservative and, perhaps, could have influenced the outcome of the session if handled differently.

“On the final lap, we lacked the right pace,” Charles Leclerc explained after qualifying. “I had no one in front of me to provide a slipstream, and unfortunately, we lost some time because of that. The first lap was practically perfect, but that’s how things go sometimes.”

Speaking to Sky Italia, the #16 added that the team could have approached the situation “differently.”