Charles Leclerc has conceded that his and Ferrari’s relative lack of tempo on the laborious compound tyre throughout Sunday’s Chinese language Grand Prix got here as a “large shock”, with the Scuderia having to accept distant P4 and P5 finishes.
Leclerc and group mate Carlos Sainz confronted challenges from the beginning of the race, initially falling to the tail-end of the highest 10 when George Russell’s Mercedes and Nico Hulkenberg’s Haas slipped forward on the opening lap and forcing them to work their method again in entrance.
READ MORE: Verstappen fees to victory over Norris and Perez in action-packed Chinese language GP
Because the encounter settled down, it transpired that each Ferraris, alongside McLaren’s Lando Norris, have been trying to drag off a medium-to-hard tyre one-stop technique, with the lead Pink Bulls of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez choosing two pit lane visits as a substitute.
Whereas Norris made essentially the most of a Digital Security Automobile and two full Security Automobile intervals to clear Perez, Leclerc felt the interventions hindered Ferrari’s efforts because the Monegasque and Sainz wound up fourth and fifth following their significantly lengthy stints on hards, which proved unfavourable on the SF-24.
Requested to replicate on his race, and if he was stunned by McLaren’s efficiency relative to Ferrari because the afternoon unfolded, Leclerc commented: “I feel as a group we have been fairly assured that our race tempo was very sturdy.
“Nevertheless, we didn’t drive on the laborious [during the weekend] till now and as soon as we put the laborious on we have been slower than what we anticipated, in order that was an enormous shock. Particularly McLaren have been very, very sturdy on the laborious.
“Having stated that, I feel now we have additionally been placed on the backfoot with the Security Automobile, as a result of that put us in the identical technique as everyone and till that second I used to be doing a extremely, actually good job with the tyres, and I used to be very assured that we might do an incredible race. After that it was far more tough.”
READ MORE: Verstappen hails ‘superb’ weekend in China as he takes victory amid a number of restarts
Whereas Leclerc’s sole cease got here beneath the Digital Security Automobile, Sainz had pitted simply earlier than, that means some treasured seconds misplaced relative to his group mate because the Spaniard defined the Grand Prix from his perspective.
“A little bit of a troublesome race for us,” he stated. “Initially, I feel we have to evaluate the beginning as a result of we had an odd line there by way of Flip 1, Flip 2, which meant that the Mercedes and the Haas handed each Charles and I, which value us most likely a little bit of race time.
“Then the timing of the Security Automobile wasn’t best as a result of everybody might put a brand new tyre [on] in entrance of me, and I used to be left with a really outdated tyre for the final stint and I needed to nurse the tyre house for a P5. Contemplating all of this, I feel P5 right now was the utmost, so not too dangerous.”
Requested about Norris and McLaren’s run to the rostrum, Sainz conceded: “I feel this weekend they’ve been stronger, so simple as that. I feel McLaren, in this sort of circuit, they’ve proven a greater tempo than us.
“On prime of that, we certified behind and we acquired in bother within the first lap, then there’s no likelihood we’re going to beat them. We have to do higher subsequent time.”
Ferrari stay second in the constructors’ standings following their newest double rating, however the Maranello operation have now slipped 44 factors behind leaders and reigning world champions Pink Bull.
