The Ferrari driver’s robust run of seven consecutive front-row beginning positions resulted in Australia the place he certified fifth earlier than a penalty for Sergio Perez gifted him a spot.
He struggled once more at Suzuka, the place he could not higher eighth after having to make use of a second set of tyres to ensure secure passage out of Q1.
In each races, he got here by the sphere to take second and fourth positions respectively, however he insists that he wants to begin additional up the grid.
“If I solely look immediately I am very completely happy, I do not assume there was something we might have accomplished higher,” he mentioned when requested by Motorsport.com about his Suzuka race.
“The tempo was actually good, tyre administration was actually good, communication was actually good.
“Nevertheless, as a driver, you all the time have to take a look at the adverse over the entire weekend.
“And whether or not it is in Australia or right here, race tempo has not been an issue – it is my qualifying tempo, which isn’t one thing that I have been very used to in my profession, to be engaged on my qualifying tempo, as a result of usually it is fairly good on the Saturday.
“Nevertheless, since two races now in a row, I have been struggling to place the tyres in the proper window.
“And that is undoubtedly my fundamental focus now going into Shanghai, to try to refine the proper window, the tyres, and for me to place them extra constantly inside that window. Then as soon as I will try this, I am positive the tempo will come again in quali.”
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24
Picture by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Photos
Leclerc insisted that his present wrestle is all about tyre preparation.
“100 per cent,” he mentioned. “As a result of as I mentioned, my laps weren’t that dangerous. Yesterday, the lap I’ve accomplished was truly actually good. However the grip that was obtainable from the tyre was simply not there.
“And it is because I do a foul job on the lap earlier than, which may be very irritating, since you end a lap and also you’re completely happy. However truly you are nowhere.
“So I’ve received to give attention to that. It’s extremely nice, like little or no variations. Nevertheless, I am assured that by analysing properly the info – we have got per week earlier than Shanghai – and each time I centered on one thing, I improved fairly rapidly on it. So I am not too involved.
“However I would like to do that step ahead for Shanghai now.”
Ferrari group principal Fred Vasseur downplayed Leclerc’s issues, declaring that his Suzuka session was compromised by Q1.
“You do not have to attract a conclusion simply based mostly on the classification,” mentioned the Frenchman. “I feel the place we missed somewhat bit the weekend with Charles yesterday was the primary lap of Q1. He did not do a mega lap, and we needed to put the second set on, as a result of we have been somewhat bit in danger.
“And then you definately go to Q3, you may have just one set. And you’re a little bit on the again foot, since you’re like, ‘If I do a mistake, I will likely be P10’. And we did not take the proper method on qualifying.
“However now I am satisfied that Charles is a competitor, he’s the great one on one lap qualifying, and it is going to be again quickly.
Pressed on Leclerc’s personal admission that he wants to enhance, Vasseur added: “Yeah, he is lucid on the truth that he did not do a superb quali yesterday, and you may’t be completely happy when your team-mate is P4, and you’re P8.
“However total, we’d like additionally to have a deep look on quali, on the session. We missed the Q1, after which we landed on the finish solely with one set in Q3, and if you happen to end one-tenth off the second row it isn’t a catastrophe as if you’re six-tenths off on that.
“And it is going to be one other one subsequent week, we’ll have two qualis in China, two alternatives to do the job.”
