Charles Leclerc recognized that Ferrari experienced a real “return to reality” after the results obtained by the Italian firm at the end of the sprint qualifying rounds of the Qatar Grand Prix.
Despite an encouraging start to the weekend during the free practice session, Charles Leclerc having dominated FP1 ahead of the two McLarens. Unfortunately for the reds, hopes were dashed a little during the sprint qualifying session on Friday. McLaren clearly took the lead, with Lando Norris on pole position, Oscar Piastri third, while the Ferrari drivers had to settle for fourth and fifth place on the starting grid for the Sprint Race.
For the Monegasque driver, this disillusionment comes after a successful first test session, but which confirms Ferrari's current limits against its rivals.
“It's not good because when you give everything you have and we are only P4 and P5, it's not very good considering the importance of this weekend for us”said Leclerc. “Let's say that for one reason or another, the first free practice session was much better than our expectations. I would say this is what we expected. We’re coming back to reality.”
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“Obviously after the first day we were hoping we could do something better, but that wasn't the case.”
Assessing Ferrari's chances in the Sprint Race, he said: “If we look at the first day, yes, it’s clear. If we look at the qualifications, no. For the moment, these are the qualifications which are the most representative. We're not in the best position, but you never know. It's always different on race day”, concluded the Ferrari driver.
As a reminder, Scuderia Ferrari is 24 points behind McLaren, leader of the World Constructors' Championship. With only two Grands Prix and one Sprint Race remaining before the end of the season, the two teams are doing everything possible to bring back a title that they have missed for many years. Ferrari has been waiting for a constructors' world title for 16 seasons now, McLaren since 1998.
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