F1: Leclerc already regrets pointing at Ferrari

Charles Leclerc could only start the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix from the fifth row, after his only Q3 lap at the end of the qualifying session was canceled due to leaving the track. The Monaco driver blamed the cold tires – thus indirectly Ferrari – for the accident, but he changed his position after improving four places on Sunday, which resulted in him being reprimanded as fifth.

“I have mixed feelings. We did a very good job today and there is nothing we could have done better” – he stated of the F1 official site. “The first part of the race was frustrating when we couldn’t do anything but wait for Nico (Hülkenberg) and Fernando (Alonso) to pit and push on.”

“We dictated a good pace from then on and once we had the tire change we ran a very strong second stage and I was happy to get back to fifth place. It was still a disappointing weekend” – commented the Monaco driver of Ferrari bitterly.

Leclerc also spoke about the fact that he still spoke angrily to the media on Saturday, but realized that he also had a part in the fact that things did not turn out as planned. “Yes, the tires were really not in the right operating range, which often happens in qualifying. I think the main problem was that I braked myself in turn 1 and went off the track, I didn’t pay attention to the track boundaries and even my nail was bad” – took responsibility.

“In hindsight, it was probably my fault yesterday. It happens, and there are times when we do well and there are times when we make mistakes, especially when we put everything in one lap. If I look at the weekend as a whole, I think I paid the price for yesterday’s mistake.”

Leclerc, who is in third place in the points race, noted that he is confident that he can fight back in four weeks, at the upcoming American Grand Prix – although, with the weaker weekend, his already rather mathematical chances have faded further, as his deficit has increased to 86 points against the leader of the list, Max Verstappen.