Charles Leclerc has admitted he underestimated McLaren’s potent straight-line speed with its “controversial” rear wing design in the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Leclerc appeared on course to convert pole position into the race win in Baku last weekend when he stormed into a commanding six-second lead in the opening stint.
However, Leclerc’s chances unravelled when his margin was eroded through the pit stops as Oscar Piastri capitalised on an undercut to make a brave pass on Lap 20.
The Monegasque conceded post-race that he elected to not cover the inside line at Turn 1 earlier as he was certain that he would have the chance to retrieve the spot.
Leclerc has expressed that both he and Ferrari had not expected McLaren’s MCL38 package to be so quick down the straights that his attempts would come up short.
“I mean it was a good move,” Leclerc recalled to media including Motorsport Week.
“However, as I said when I saw him going on the inside, I knew he was there. I knew it was an opportunity for him to get past, but I was not more worried than that.
“I knew that he could take the lead, but I also knew that I was at the beginning of the warm-up of the tyres, and I didn’t want to push on them.
“So I didn’t want to start going stupid in terms of how defensive I would get.
“However, I was wrong because obviously his straightline speed was really, really strong and after that I never had the opportunity to pass again.”
Leclerc, who would come home in second place, is adamant that there was nothing he could have done with his Ferrari to overcome McLaren’s slight top-speed edge.
“I don’t think on the attacks there was anything better I could have done. I could have done a better job defending.
“However, again, I didn’t know how quick they were on the straights after that.”
Leclerc labels McLaren’s rear wing ‘controversial’
McLaren’s enhanced straight-line pace triggered much debate post-race as the rearward-facing onboard cameras on Piastri’s car exposed some interesting behaviour.
The upper element on the MCL38’s rear wing seems to flex on the straights to help reduce drag, prompting the trick to have been branded a ‘mini DRS’ in the paddock.
McLaren has insisted that the mechanism is legal and it has passed the relevant static load tests, but F1 rivals want clarification on the extent to which parts can flex.
The FIA announced prior to this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix that it will be reviewing the coverage from Baku to assess whether it needs to intervene in the matter.
Leclerc has revealed that there have been internal discussions at Ferrari about the contentious topic, but he was reserving the team’s stance to boss Frederic Vasseur.
“Yes, [there is] definitely a dialogue that we’ve already had,” Leclerc addressed when asked for his thoughts on McLaren’s rear wing.
“I mean, I think Fred will go on that matter a bit more into detail, but from what I’ve been told, it’s controversial to say the least.
“So, yeah. I’ll leave that here and I’ll let Fred comment on it a bit further.”
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