Charles Leclerc: “I’m terrible in qualifying at this track, I chose a race setup – tomorrow the goal is to win”. Charles Leclerc admits his struggles in Shanghai qualifying.

The Ferrari driver will start from the second row alongside Lewis Hamilton.

Charles Leclerc will start from the second row alongside Hamilton

Just 13 thousandths of a second separated Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc in qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix. The two Ferrari SF-26 cars will attack the Mercedes machines of Andrea Kimi Antonelli and George Russell at the start tomorrow, taking advantage of what currently appears to be a clear strength resulting from specific design choices, including a smaller turbocharger.

Charles Leclerc has now accepted the fact that he struggles to get comfortable with the Shanghai circuit over a single lap. “In qualifying at this track I’m really terrible. It’s not that I’m not trying, but after so many years I have to accept this fact,” the Ferrari driver told Sky. “What is certainly positive is that we have gone from being eight tenths behind Mercedes to just three tenths, even if George Russell had some problems, so we don’t know where he might have ended up with a completely clean session.”

The Ferrari driver has opted for a race-focused setup and is entering Sunday’s Grand Prix with a clear objective. “The setup I chose should work better in the race, and tomorrow the goal is to win. Lewis Hamilton ahead of me in qualifying? On this track, being just a few thousandths behind him is not bad, even though of course the goal is always to be the best Ferrari driver. He did a better job than me and he deserved third position.”

Charles Leclerc’s self-critical assessment of his “terrible” qualifying form in Shanghai highlights the high standards the Ferrari driver sets for himself, even when securing a second-row start. His focus on the race setup points to a strategic shift within the Scuderia, moving away from chasing the “glory lap” and toward the objective reality of the 2026 points system. With the Briton proving to be a formidable benchmark at a circuit where he has historically excelled, Charles Leclerc’s ability to stay within striking distance bodes well for Ferrari’s chances. If the compact turbo design provides the improved drivability out of the hairpin that the engineers expect, the run down the back straight toward the finish could see the SF-26 finally challenge the Mercedes dominance in a direct, high-speed showdown.