Fifth in the actual qualifying, sixth in the Sprint Shootout that determines the starting grid for the short Qatar race: this time Scuderia Ferrari Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc didn’t pull a rabbit out of the hat, but the impression is that at least on a single lap, the SF-23 single-seater didn’t have the margin to hope for something better.
“It’s the best we could achieve,” said the Monegasque yesterday. And it’s a result that this time Carlos Sainz has also achieved, while the #16 had to yield to his teammate by just 92 thousandths. Little has changed for an SF-23 that appeared unstable and sensitive to the wind again. But in the race, it might catch a break due to a setup that should perform better with cooler temperatures.
Charles Leclerc‘s comments at the end of the Sprint Shootout in Lusail
“It was very difficult because yesterday in Free Practice, we had to find a setup for very different conditions. The sessions with cooler temperatures, like the Sprint, tomorrow’s race, and yesterday’s qualifying, are the most important, and I knew that with my setup, we would struggle more in the heat,” commented the Monegasque on Sky after the Sprint Shootout.
“I struggled, especially with the rear because there was quite a bit of overheating on the car, but tonight, with cooler temperatures, it should be a bit better in this regard,” he added. “I don’t think tonight will be easy to overtake; I expect a tough race. However, more points will be up for grabs tomorrow, and that’s where we should exploit the car’s potential.” – the Ferrari driver concluded.
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