P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Charles Leclerc endured a difficult qualifying session in Japan and is set to start the grand prix in eighth place.
Charles Leclerc has expressed confusion regarding the reasons behind his challenging qualifying session at the Japanese Grand Prix, where he secured the eighth position on the grid, his lowest since the previous year’s race in The Netherlands. Ferrari’s struggle with pace during Saturday’s session at Suzuka came as a surprise, considering their positive outlook following Friday’s practice sessions. Leclerc, speaking to media outlets, admitted that he was unable to pinpoint the exact cause of his lack of pace, despite feeling comfortable in the car. He acknowledged a recurring issue with tire preparation affecting his performance in qualifying, making overtaking on the narrow track at Suzuka a daunting task. Despite the difficulties, Leclerc remains optimistic about the team’s race pace and hopes to capitalize on that strength during the main event.
