Leclerc managed to convert Ferrari’s impressive training pace in Monaco on Saturday into a first pole of the season and displace Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by two tenths of a second.
However, pole was secured in an unusual way after Leclerc crashed at the exit of the swimming pool late in the third quarter, showing a red flag preventing any rider from making any further improvements.
Although Leclerc was delighted with pole, both he and the Ferrari team sweated over the condition of his car and transmission fearing it could trigger a grid penalty.
Ferrari F1 boss Mattia Binotto made it clear that the team would not take any chances with the Leclerc gearbox and stressed the importance of maximizing the score in Monaco.
“No, we won’t play,” said Binotto after qualifying in Monaco.
“I think after qualifying like this it is important for us to try to maximize the number of points for the championship and of course we have to finish the race to maximize it.
“So reliability is the key, reliability remains the priority. If we have any doubts, we will surely change and fix them. “
Charles Leclerc’s car, Ferrari SF21, has cranked out
Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images
Should Leclerc’s car need a new gearbox, it would drop the grid by five places, relegating him to sixth on the grid.
Binotto believed Ferrari would have clarity on the condition of the transmission and chassis “within a few hours” and decided what changes should be made tonight.
The result was Ferrari’s first pole position since the 2019 Mexican Grand Prix – achieved by Leclerc – and came after a surprising recovery in form through the previous weekend in Monaco.
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But Binotto said after training that due to Leclerc’s fall and the fact that Carlos Sainz Jr. only qualified fourth, there was a sense of disappointment in the team after finishing second in all three training sessions.
“It’s always a shame to have a car crash,” said Binotto.
“[We are] Also disappointed, the whole team was more disappointed, not for the crash, especially not for the Pole, because we believe that Carlos could have done better overall and we thought that could be the case.
“As a team we might have done better today and that’s why we feel a bit disappointed.”
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