Charles Leclerc remains upbeat: “I believe we can still have a strong race” | F1 Canadian GP. Charles Leclerc admits disappointment after qualifying P8 in Canada.

The potential of the SF-25 in Montreal
Ferrari certainly cannot be satisfied with the qualifying result for the Canadian Grand Prix, finishing fifth with Lewis Hamilton and eighth with Charles Leclerc. Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur believes that without the mistake between Turns 6 and 7, the Monegasque could have fought for pole position, and the driver himself is aware that he didn’t maximise the potential of his Ferrari SF-25.
It’s worth noting that Leclerc was on Soft tyres, while the fastest drivers – George Russell and Max Verstappen – were on Mediums.

Charles Leclerc’s analysis
“I’m very disappointed, although I’m convinced that yesterday’s session had no impact on today’s poor performance. I felt comfortable in FP3 from the first laps and also felt good with the car in qualifying. We were probably the only ones to do so many laps on used tyres from Q1 to the middle of Q2, and we were strong.

On my final lap in Q3, I was finally putting everything together, then in Turn 6 or 7 I found Isack 100 or 150 metres ahead of me. Of course it wasn’t impeding, but on a track like this with walls so close, dirty air makes a big difference and I lost the rear. I believed in it, I thought the car had the pace for pole.

I don’t know if the tyre choice would have cost us pole in the end, but it would have been close anyway, so I’m very disappointed. Going out early on track was also my decision, one I’ll reconsider. But if Isack had been 400 metres ahead and let me pass between Turns 7 and 8, we wouldn’t even be talking about this. Sometimes it just goes that way. I’m still very confident I can have a great race, but we’ve made our Sunday much more difficult.”