P1racenews AI automatic summary:
With Ferrari looking potent on long runs at the Japanese GP, its single-lap underperformance – and particularly that of Charles Leclerc – is proving costly.
Charles Leclerc expressed significant disappointment after the Japanese Grand Prix qualifying, despite finishing just a tenth behind his Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz. Both Leclerc and Ferrari were unsatisfied with their performance at Suzuka, as Sainz qualified fourth and Leclerc eighth, trailing pole-sitter Max Verstappen by 0.485s and 0.589s, respectively. Leclerc acknowledged his slow pace without a clear explanation, feeling puzzled by his performance. Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur remains optimistic about the season despite the challenges faced in qualifying. Leclerc’s struggles with tyre preparation affected his qualifying performance, but he remains determined to improve and understand the issues. Despite the setbacks, Leclerc showed resilience in making a reasonable recovery and handling the situation with a positive attitude.
