Leclerc was penalized ten places in Montreal because he finally changed the engine that Ferrari was unable to repair after the failure in Baku. Photo EFE / EPA / ANDRE PICHETTE
The question was in the paddock on Friday: would Ferrari change the engine of Charles Leclerc’s car or not? Up for grabs 10 positions on the starting grid of the Canadian Grand Prix, the ninth round of Formula 1 and which will take place this Sunday (at 15:00 from Star +) in Montreal. Finally, the Maranello and Monegasque houses were decided upon he will not start in front or with pole position, the one he obtained in six of the eight championship races.
It all started last weekend when an engine failure prevented Leclerc from completing the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, when it made its way through the streets of Baku. Subsequently, Ferrari indicated that it was impossible to repair the engine.
After Friday’s second free practice, the FIA announced that Leclerc had resorted to his third new engine of the year and he would have been penalized at the start, just as he had already been informed by Yuki Tsunoda (Alpha Tauri) for using his fourth engine of the season.
Before Friday’s free practice, Leclerc admitted that a series of technical problems this season had left him “in a position that is not the best possible”while he was fighting for the title against the Red Bull drivers, Max Verstappen and the Mexican Sergio Pérez, first and second ahead of him.
Verstappen, winner of five races this season and current leader of the standings, was the fastest during Friday’s two free practice sessions in Montreal. Leclerc finished the day in second place, just 0.081 seconds behind the Dutchman. “The position in general is positive”, believed the Monegasque.
But this Saturday, when the ranking starts at 17:00, it will not matter if he is a poleman, because the first place will go to whoever finishes second, in case he is the best.
Leclerc has faced a series of setbacks since winning two of the first three races of the season to take the lead in the drivers’ championship.
He had to retire from races in Spain and Baku, and failed to convert four pole positions to victory ahead of Sunday’s race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Thus, he fell to third place of the season, behind the Red Bull drivers.
“Obviously, we cannot hide the fact that it is difficult to slip three races in a row due to problems or errors.Leclerc said. “But as a team, I think we are working very hard to get over these things as soon as possible.
“I think it’s clear to everyone that the motivation is still very high. We are working very hard as a team and we just want to win again as soon as possible“, added who was the only one close to Max Verstappen, owner of an overwhelming pace on Friday and who intends to extend it all weekend with a car that does what he wants.
On the penalty, Leclerc admitted: “Well, obviously I’m starting a little further back. But I think it was the best decision I could have made, so let’s see how it goes. Overtaking was a little more difficult than I expected today, but yeah, I mean the pace is there, so let’s hope we can get back to where we want to be.
Ferrari is looking to close the 80-point gap with Red Bull in the constructors’ championship in Canada. And when asked how close he was between the two rivals, Leclerc said, “He’s pretty close. The race pace we have to work on, I mean, it’s a bit difficult to have a clear picture because I was always on a different compound, but overall it didn’t look bad, so it’s okay ”.
Verstappen is the rival to beat in Canada and in the championship, which he leads. Photo Jim WATSON / AFP
In addition to Leclerc, Ferrari is trying to recover Sainz, who retired early from the Baku race due to a hydraulic problem. And despite finishing P2 and P3 in the first and second free practice sessions, Sainz believes Ferrari are trying to catch up with Red Bull and Verstappen.
“Max appears to be very fast this weekend, it’s been from the start and I think we’re trying to catch up to it a bit, both in the pace of a lap and in long runs. But I think that with the steps we normally do on Saturday and Sunday we can get there “, the Spaniard was excited.
The first activity on this Saturday will be the third training session, from 2:00 pm on Star ++, while at 5:00 pm the most anticipated of the day will arrive with the rankings after a Friday that the reigning champion has dominated to his liking.
Source: Clarin
