Scuderia Ferrari Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc has pointed out that he had to back the Maranello team’s decision to send him out with intermediate tyres while the track was still dry in the final part of the qualifying for the Brazilian Grand Prix in São Paulo, as he responded to suggestions from 1996 Formula 1 world champion Damon Hill that the Monegasque driver should have more “courage” and assume responsibility for decision-making, therefore correcting the Italian side and avoiding moments such as the one on Friday at Interlagos.
Charles Leclerc started Saturday’s sprint race at the 4.309 km (2.677 mi) Autódromo José Carlos Pace from tenth place as he was unable to complete a fast run in Q3. The Monegasque was sent out on intermediates and before he was able to return to the pits for a tyre change, there was no more time to set a fast lap due to George Russell’s incident. As each of his nine competitors were able to set a lap on slick tyres ahead of the red flag and the rain starting to fall, Charles Leclerc was of course left furious with the indecisiveness of his team.
In an interview for Sky Sports F1, 1996 world champion Damon Hill pointed out that according to him the blame did not lie 100 per cent with Scuderia Ferrari, because a top driver should know how to impose his decisions on the team. After fighting his way back to sixth place in the 24-lap sprint, that became P5 due to his teammate’s grid penalty, Charles Leclerc assessed:
“To be honest, there is not much to go into. We have taken the wrong decision. The team told me it was raining and it wasn’t so we were on inters when it was still [conditions] for slicks. Hopefully we won’t do this mistake again.” – he explained.
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The media pointed out Damon Hill comments and asked Charles Leclerc to respond if the Briton’s views were fair: “In some occasions yes.” – Charles replied – “[In qualifying], I had no idea of what was going on. If the team tells me it is raining outside, I don’t see outside or at least not in turn 12 or whatever. In those situations, I cannot do much.” – Scuderia Ferrari Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc concluded, at the end of the Brazilian Sprint event in São Paulo.
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