After a complicated qualifying session at the Barcelona circuit, Charles Leclerc explained the reasoning behind the strategy adopted by Ferrari for the Spanish GP, particularly the decision not to immediately use a fresh set of soft tyres. According to the Monegasque driver, the choice was personal and not imposed by the Ferrari team.
Charles Leclerc spoke to the media after the session, taking full responsibility for what happened, while stressing that he made the call with the race in mind, prioritising having a fresh tyre set available for Sunday.
Charles Leclerc’s words after qualifying in Spain
“Saving a set of tyres was my decision, so the responsibility is mine. Was it the right choice or not? Maybe not, but it was entirely my call. The team suggested several times in the pit to go out earlier.”
“We always had a used soft, but only with an outlap, so not really used, but on a track like this it still makes a difference, like two tenths or so. So I wanted to keep that tyre for tomorrow’s race, because I think there’s a big advantage. And that’s mostly my opinion.”
“I gave it a try halfway through the session. At the end, the cloud cover increased, temperatures dropped and there was more track improvement. Today, the responsibility is mine, but I’m fairly happy with our tyre strategy for tomorrow. I made the choice with the race in mind. Whether it pays off or not, we’ll talk about it tomorrow night. Maybe I was wrong.”
Charles Leclerc rules out coordinated strategy with Lewis Hamilton
During the interview, he was also asked whether there had been any attempt to coordinate with Lewis Hamilton to provide a slipstream during qualifying. Car #16 made it clear that the timing wouldn’t have allowed such a move:
“I’ll tell you how it went. We were really that tight on time, because up to the last second… Lewis was heading out just as I was finishing my run, so I don’t think, with our respective timings, it would have been possible.”
A direct explanation, with no beating around the bush, that highlights the maturity with which Charles Leclerc handles strategic decisions—even when they turn out to be questionable in terms of immediate results. Sunday’s race will determine whether his vision pays off.
