Another disappointment for Scuderia Ferrari came in the qualifying session for the 2023 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, with the misunderstanding between Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc which will force the Maranello team to start from the third and fourth row at the 5.278-kilometre Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne on Sunday.
Indeed, during the last lap of Q3, Charles Leclerc was slowed down by his teammate, effectively losing the possibility of improving his time from the previous flying lap. The reason for what happened lies in the fact that, while Carlos Sainz had decided to do two warm-up laps, the Monegasque opted for a fast lap immediately after the outlap. In this way, once he arrived in the first sector, Charles Leclerc found himself in front of the Spanish driver.
In the team radio message and in the interviews at the end of the qualifying session, Charles Leclerc did not hide his disappointment for what happened. “Thanks to Carlos for the tow,” he said sarcastically. “The rain didn’t arrive at the end, what a sh** session“.
One other reason that led to the chaos at Ferrari is linked to the weather forecast, given that ahead of qualifying it seemed there would most likely be rain during the session. In this sense, the indications given to the two drivers of the Maranello team continued to predict the arrival of rain in the final stages of Q3. “We expect rain in the last four minutes“, were Adami’s words to Carlos Sainz.
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According to a video that is circulating on the web, there would have been a quick confrontation between the two Ferrari drivers immediately after the session. From the images we can see Charles Leclerc who, with a small smile on his mouth, goes to ask for an explanation from Carlos Sainz who is surprised by the words of his teammate.
According to the first rumors, it would seem that Ferrari has given Charles the indication to push to avoid the rain, while Carlos was asked to do another warm-up lap.
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