Ferrari will change Charles Leclerc’s chassis after it sustained a tear during qualifying for the Qatar Formula 1 Grand Prix as the Monegasque driver had to retire early in the second quarter.
Leclerc suffered an unusually poor qualifying performance at the Losail International Circuit, finishing only 13th in Q2 while his teammate Carlos Sainz finished seventh for tomorrow’s Grand Prix.
After that, Leclerc could not explain his difficulties. He was “very confused” when he saw the gap to the top 10 runners and assumed that it was “something really big because I just can’t explain it”.
Leclerc’s suspicions were soon confirmed after Ferrari checked their car and discovered a crack in the chassis of their SF21.
“After Leclerc’s car was checked, a crack was found in the chassis, likely as a result of running over the curbs on the first run in Q1. It now needs to be changed,” Ferrari said in a statement.
Ferrari expects Leclerc to be able to start the race from 13th position and adds: “If all work is done within the time allotted by the sports regulations, Charles will continue to start from his qualifying position.”
Leclerc last changed the chassis after an accident in FP2 at the Belgian Grand Prix, in which he damaged his previous tub in a Les Combes shunt.
Despite starting far back on a track where overtaking will be difficult, Leclerc still hopes that his free tire choice will give him some opportunities to move up the rankings and earn points.
“I think anything is possible,” said Leclerc. “We will have a free choice of tires that we can hopefully use.”
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF21
Photo by: Jerry Andre / Motorsport Images
The medium tire is the preferred compound for the start of the race, but due to its pace disadvantage compared to the soft only Sainz, both Mercedes drivers and Red Bulls Max Verstappen made it through Q2 on the slower tire.
Sainz stated that getting through Q2 at an intermediate level was crucial for him as Ferrari is facing “very bad deteriorations” this weekend.
“We saw a lot of wear on the front tires on Friday and that’s why we were so engaged on the medium today,” said the Spaniard.
“That almost cost us a place in Q3 because the soft tire was the better tire. We risked a lot by staying on the center line in the second run, almost didn’t make it, but we did it, and then in Q3 I enjoyed a bit the softer.
“Hopefully the medium will give us a little head start, because we definitely have a bit of trouble.”
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