Charles Leclerc was left to rue a “missed alternative” on the Australian Grand Prix after an error of his personal was compounded by a strategic mistake from Ferrari.
Leclerc was operating a strong sixth on lap 44 of 57 when he spun in troublesome situations on the exit of Flip 11 and dropped outdoors the highest 10.
Ferrari then elected to maintain Leclerc and teammate Lewis Hamilton out even because the observe turned too moist for slicks, hoping they’d have the ability to courageous out the situations and achieve observe place.
However that technique backfired massively because the rain intensified, with each Leclerc and Hamilton being compelled to pit for intermediate tyres underneath the protection automotive a number of laps later.
The Monegasque driver emerged from the chaos in tenth place, benefitting from retirements for different drivers, and finally crossed the end line in eighth after overtaking Hamilton and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly.
Hamilton wound up tenth within the different Ferrari, rounding off a disappointing weekend for the Scuderia wherein its chief 2024 rival McLaren gained the race from pole place with Lando Norris.
Whereas Leclerc admitted that the SF-25 lacked the tempo to run on the sharp finish, he feels a greater outcome was attainable had each he and the crew not made any errors.
“It was undoubtedly a missed alternative,” Leclerc mentioned. “Particularly in these situations when it is altering and that you do not have the tempo, it is there that you just acquired to attain the factors and we did not at this time.
“We weren’t quick sufficient in the beginning of the race when the race was type of boring, after which as soon as it mattered to make the precise selection, we didn’t.
“However the first one responsible is my mistake out of Flip 11, as a result of I misplaced 4 positions or 5 positions and from that mistake. Then it places us on the again foot.
“If you happen to look three or 4 positions in entrance, then we’re third or fourth, which I believe was what might be accomplished. However it’s the way in which it’s.”
Leclerc felt the communication between him and the crew was not “notably unhealthy” in Melbourne, regardless of Ferrari being the one frontrunning crew to gamble on slick tyres throughout the sudden downpour.
“That is one thing that we at all times take a look at and that we all know is one thing that we have to at all times maintain our deal with,” he defined.
“Whether or not at this time was notably unhealthy, I don’t suppose so. However we’ll look into it.”
Ferrari was anticipated to be one among McLaren’s foremost challengers on the season-opening Australian GP primarily based on the shape it had proven in Bahrain testing.
Nonetheless, Leclerc and Hamilton certified seventh and eighth respectively on Saturday, whereas they solely managed to attain 5 factors between them within the race.
It prompted the 27-year-old to confess that Ferrari has work to do to shut the hole to McLaren and the Pink Bull of Max Verstappen.
“We have been undoubtedly very off by way of tempo in comparison with the McLarens and Max, so we’ll look into it, however sure, for positive we have been struggling at this time,” he mentioned.
“Then McLaren and Pink Bull have been a lot quicker, so there’s a whole lot of work to be accomplished.”
