Charles Leclerc believes he could have gone quicker during qualifying for Formula 1’s Russian Grand Prix, despite setting two laps fast enough for pole position.
Leclerc stormed clear during Q2 and set the benchmark in Q3, improving upon his initial lap to wind up four-tenths of a second in front of Lewis Hamilton.
It marked his fourth straight pole position, and sixth of the season, as he preserved his unbeaten qualifying record since Formula 1’s summer break.
“I don’t think I had any clean laps before the one of Q3,” he said.
“I think the first lap in Q3 felt very good, the second lap very good until Turn 16, where I lost the rear and lost a little bit of lap time, but overall the car was just coming together and the balance was getting better.
“I was adjusting a bit the aero balance and I felt more and more confident.”
Leclerc stressed that he has not changed his approach through the last four races and is conscious that his current streak will eventually come to a close.
“Of course I feel confident going in qualifying but at the end at one point it’s going to end, so whether it’s now or later I don’t know,” he said.
“The only thing I’m trying to do is to focus on myself, do exactly the same procedure as I had since the last four races.
“I definitely don’t go to the car thinking it will be easy and come together alone. I just try to keep working as I did in the last races and hopefully the lap time comes.”
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