ZANDVOORT — Charles Leclerc admitted that frustration is part of the game after a difficult Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix, but was unaware of Lewis Hamilton’s request to overtake him.
The Monegasque had a strong start to the weekend with a podium in the Sprint Race, and one of the few overtakes in that particular race. However, for the main portion of the weekend, it was a different battle for Leclerc.
After qualifying sixth for the race, Leclerc admitted the SF-26 car is optimised for race pace, rather than qualifying one-lap pace.
A tough fifth place for Leclerc in Dutch GP
However, in the race, despite making a good start and making up places, a poorly timed VSC for the Monegasque saw him drop back behind teammate Lewis Hamilton in the field, where he remained until the closing stages.
At one point, Ferrari tried to call Leclerc into the pits, but he replied shortly that he didn’t want to and instead stayed out. When asked about this after the race, Leclerc told media, including Motorsport Week, that he was focused on his own pace.
“Well, I didn’t have any message on that at the end of the day,” he said. “I was focusing on my pace and trying to do the best I could do for my race, I had a very good first stint.
“I had to stop early to try and undercut the guys in front. And that’s a bit of a team game. Sometimes you’ve got to put yourself a little bit at risk, especially in the first stint for that.”
In the race, Hamilton asked to be swapped with Leclerc, but the team didn’t make that decision, instead making them race until Leclerc came into the pits. Hamilton was frustrated by that decision, believing the time he spent behind Leclerc cost him a podium.
The Monegasque brushed off the Brit’s frustrations and said it’s just part of the process, with frustrations shifting from one to another frequently.
“Lewis was very strong in the second stint, but it’s the way it goes. So I think sometimes I’ll be frustrated, sometimes Lewis will be frustrated, but it’s the way it is.”
A different pit stop decision
When asked to clarify the conversation around pitting, Leclerc said that it was a ‘surprise’ to be pitting so early, so that’s why he asked to wait longer.
“I was very surprised to box so early when we had done exactly what we wanted, because George was pitting. So that was time for us to do five, 10 laps longer to build a tyre delta and to come back at the end on George.
“Fortunately, two laps later, I was told to box, which I did, I think, three laps later.”
Leclerc said it was less of a debate between team and driver and more him sharing when he wanted to pit, with the team listening.
“I mean, I don’t think there was much debate. At first I was asked to stop. Then, toward the end of the lap, I was asked to stay on track, which I did. And a lap later, I was asked to stop.”
If Ferrari has any chance of maintaining its already-slim hopes of catching Mercedes, it must stamp out its knack of strategic issues to ensure maximum optimisation of its opportunities.
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