Leclerc had a mixed day during the practice and qualifying sessions for the Australian Grand Prix. While he felt good during Friday’s practice, things didn’t go as smoothly on Saturday. In the final practice session, he wasn’t happy with his performance, and during qualifying, he struggled with the front tires of his car.
He managed to secure the fourth position in the first qualifying session and the second position in the second session. However, he decided to change the front wing setup for his last run in the final session to improve his performance. Unfortunately, this adjustment didn’t work as he hoped, and he ended up frustrated in the fifth position.
Leclerc admitted that his struggles began earlier in the weekend during the practice sessions. He expected his performance to improve during qualifying, but it didn’t happen. He mentioned that he faced difficulties with the front tires throughout the qualifying session, and his aggressive adjustment to the front wing didn’t yield positive results.
Regarding the performance of Red Bull, especially Max Verstappen who secured pole position, Leclerc acknowledged their strong showing. He mentioned that Red Bull’s engine power and performance were impressive, making it challenging for Ferrari to compete for the win.
Despite the challenges, Leclerc aimed to target Checo Perez during the race. He hoped to be competitive and fight for a podium finish. He also mentioned that the choice of tires, particularly the hard tire, could play a crucial role in the race. Leclerc expressed his desire to put pressure on the competition and improve his performance compared to the qualifying session.
Leclerc attributed some of his struggles to his tire preparation, admitting that he didn’t do a great job in that aspect during the day. He acknowledged the importance of tire management and hoped to perform better during the race by addressing these issues.
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