Charles Leclerc after the Qatar Sprint
A flash in the darkness. That’s how Charles Leclerc’s overtaking move on Lewis Hamilton can be described, the sole highlight in a Lusail circuit lit artificially. In Qatar, the Monegasque driver’s maneuver provided the only thrill in an otherwise soporific Sprint, carefully controlled by McLaren to secure a crucial one-two in the constructors’ standings. However, fifth place certainly does not satisfy the Ferrari driver, who now faces the task, along with Carlos Sainz, of overcoming a 30-point deficit to the papaya team.
The concern for car #16 is balancing the promising pace shown today with a better starting position, which will be crucial since the Lusail Sprint revealed how difficult overtaking becomes when stuck in a DRS train.
Charles Leclerc’s comments
“The positive side is that the pace was good; the negative is that we struggled yesterday in qualifying with the soft tire, but I think we know where we had issues. The older engine? I don’t think it has an impact,” he told Sky Sport F1. “We know the direction we need to take, but we don’t yet know if it will solve all the problems we had yesterday in qualifying. If we can solve them, we’ll be in a good position for tomorrow.” – the Monegasque driver pointed out.
“It will be really difficult to overtake. I had an opportunity to pass Lewis, and we were very much on the limit, but apart from that, I struggled to get close on the straights. The starting position for tomorrow will be crucial.” – the Ferrari driver concluded at the end of the Qatar Sprint race, which was held earlier today at the 5.419-kilometre Lusail International Circuit.
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