Having dominated the qualifying session and the opening phases of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc didn’t convert his pole place right into a race victory in Baku.
Having dominated the opening phases of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc misplaced out to McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who took his second victory of his F1 profession.
The Monegasque took his fourth consecutive pole place in Baku on Saturday with a dominant lap, having been the quickest in Azerbaijan in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. Regardless of increase a bonus of over six seconds on the medium tyres, Leclerc misplaced the lead after the primary spherical of pit stops, and was unable to retake it regardless of a sequence of overtaking manoeuvres.
Reflecting on his race, the seven-time F1 race winner revealed that the truth that he was unable to finish a race simulation run on Friday might need performed an element within the 51-lap race in Baku.
“Sadly, we didn’t do any excessive gasoline working on my aspect in FP1/FP2 and we went for a set-up course that possibly within the race was a bit harder to handle. Particularly on the exhausting tyres, I used to be actually struggling to only hold these rear tyres.
“In the direction of the top, in a single nook or two I assumed that I might put it within the wall. It was very shut, however [we ended up] second at present. I believe possibly McLaren had slightly bit much less downforce, so within the straights they had been very fast and within the corners we had been a bit faster.
“I assumed that when Oscar overtook me it was only a matter of staying calm, attempting to maintain these tyres and overtake him in a while, however truly it was much more tough than that. Within the straights I couldn’t get as shut as I needed.
Pushed on to clarify why he misplaced out to Piastri regardless of his spectacular velocity each in low- and high-fuel configuration, Leclerc mentioned that there have been two key components which helped the McLaren man take his second F1 victory.
“To be sincere, we misplaced the race once I didn’t fairly defend in addition to I ought to have on the finish of the straight, nevertheless it’s the way in which it’s. Typically you do errors, and I’ll be taught from it.”
“We misplaced the victory based mostly on two components at present. The primary was tyre administration on our out-lap from the pits. We anticipated it to take a very long time for everybody to heat up their tyres, which was the case for our automotive, however under no circumstances for McLaren, who bought their tyres as much as temperature instantly and gained an enormous period of time there.
“The second was not combating Oscar tougher when he overtook. I knew we had a protracted race forward and my goal was to take care of my tyres, keep inside DRS vary and overtake him later down the road.
“Nonetheless, we underestimated the velocity they’d on the straights at present, working a decrease downforce bundle than us, which made them too quick to try to overhaul them. General, it wasn’t one of the best day for our workforce, however we now head to Singapore and can come again stronger.”
F1GP Azerbaijan
