The regret for the incident in qualifying, but at the same time the conviction that it was right to take the risk. Scuderia Ferrari Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc reflected on the bitter disappointment represented by an early retirement even before the Monaco Grand Prix started and stressed that he had no regrets for having taken the risks that then led to the crash in the final stages of the session.
The Ferrari driver knew that his time in the first sector of his final lap was not great and therefore found himself ‘forced’ to give everything in the second part of the lap, aware of the fact that his rivals would certainly improve on a track in continuous evolution, as the times were getting faster and faster.
“I drove to try to get pole, it has often been my strength in the past in hitting particularly high qualifying performance and that’s why I had the accident” – Charles explained – “But this episode will not change my approach in the next races because I am never satisfied without giving the absolute maximum”.
Compared to 2020, Charles Leclerc now can rely on a car that has definitely improved compared to the SF-1000 and the manufacturers’ standings testifies to this. The SF21 is faster, the power unit has improved – although it remains the aspect in which the deficit with the competition is most sensitive – and has significantly increased the ability to generate downforce. In Monaco, a circuit with unique characteristics, the SF21 is once again able to fight for pole and victory. For this, Charles Leclerc was not wrong to aim for the big target. At the beginning of the 2021 Formula 1 season, the Monegasque driver underlined that this year he would have selected the battles in which to fight until the last drop of sweat, but his home race could not accept compromises, even if the streak of retirements in the Principality continues: in 2018, 2019 and 2021 Charles never saw the checkered flag in Monaco.
The next 18 races still on the calendar in this 2021 will give Charles Leclerc the opportunity to show that he has reached the maturity necessary to select the battles to fight without taking a step back. In 2020 Charles made several mistakes, but they also dictated by the poor car performance that practically forced the Monegasque driver to always throw his heart over the obstacle. Now the situation is different, the car makes it possible to fight with McLaren for third place in the constructors’ standings and in addition there is a new teammate, Carlos Sainz, who is certainly not easy to keep behind. Two great incentives for Charles Leclerc, who will want to show that his approach is the right one.
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