Matteo Bobbi analyzes how Charles Leclerc secured pole position for 2023 F1 Mexico City GP. Matteo Bobbi explains how Charles Leclerc took pole position for 2023 F1 Mexico City GP.

At the 4.304-kilometre Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, Scuderia Ferrari unexpectedly secured the front row for the Mexican Grand Prix. As has often happened, Charles Leclerc was the one who started from pole position, this time ahead of his Maranello teammate Carlos Sainz, albeit by only 67 thousandths of a second.

The Monegasque driver has once again proven to be a great qualifier, despite the sterile debates about converting pole positions into wins. In a recent video by Motorsport Italia, Matteo Bobbi, an Italian racing driver with experience in several motor sport categories, including three years as a Minardi test driver in Formula One, explained how the Mexican circuit suits the driving style of the number 16, while it’s not as favorable for his teammate.

“Two quite different driving characteristics come out between the two, and it’s clear once again how Charles Leclerc is a late braker. This can be seen in turns one, four, and twelve – significant late braking, aggressive, where he needs to shift, for example, from eighth to fourth gear, and he brakes meters later than his teammate. The Monegasque really manages to gain a lot by keeping the accelerator down later than Carlos Sainz and applying more bars, more pressure on the brake pedal, obviously to make up for the meters he braked later, without risking a lock-up,” the expert said. “The final sector, the one in the stadium section, favors the Spanish driver because he sacrifices the braking phase a bit to maximize the exit phase, and there he pays more. Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc continues to brake late and has good mid-corner minimum speed, but he’s always slightly behind Carlos Sainz on the accelerator pedal.” – Matteo Bobbi concluded.

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