Charles Leclerc admitted he was feeling “bad” after Ferrari’s “annoying” lack of tempo left him and team-mate Lewis Hamilton out of rivalry for Dash pole on the Miami Grand Prix.
Leclerc certified sixth on the Miami Worldwide Autodrome as he completed greater than three tenths of a second off Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, because the Italian teenager shocked McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris to assert his maiden F1 pole.
Leclerc had seemed to be making progress in current weeks as he backed up successive fourth-place finishes with Ferrari’s first podium of the season on the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix two weeks in the past, however the Monegasque was vastly disillusioned after Friday’s motion.
Requested how he felt about Dash Qualifying, Leclerc replied: “Dangerous. The lap was good, however the tempo is simply by no means there for now, so it’s kind of annoying however it’s the way in which it’s for now.
“I will attempt my greatest tomorrow to attempt to do one thing particular with the beginning, however to be trustworthy, there’s not a lot room for enchancment at this time. It was simply… that is the tempo of the automotive.
“It’s every corner, really, so it’s not like we are particularly weak in one type of corner. Yes, the slow-speed seems to be a little bit more of our weakness, but it changes from one weekend to the other, so it’s just not great.”
Hamilton: We’re simply missing velocity
Hamilton has endured a vastly difficult begin to his debut marketing campaign with Ferrari following his blockbuster transfer to the Italian group after 12 years at Mercedes.
The one notable vibrant second of the seven-time world champion’s first 5 rounds of the season got here when he took pole and received the opening Dash of the 12 months in China, however that second has begun to appear to be a false daybreak.
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Lewis Hamilton stated he is working onerous to regulate to the Ferrari, and admitted he even discovered his first six months with Mercedes ‘robust’.
There was hope Hamilton might as soon as extra excel within the Dash format in Miami, however the Brit was as soon as extra considerably off the tempo of Leclerc, with greater than two tenths separating them.
Hamilton stated: “It was a better session. P1 was probably a bit better, the car was a bit better, the car was a bit nicer to drive. We are just lacking speed, but we just keep working from there.”
The 40-year-old did not seem to really feel assured that Ferrari can shut the hole to the front-runners over the rest of the weekend.
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Mercedes’ teenage rookie Kimi Antonelli makes F1 historical past, turning into the youngest pole sitter, taking the Dash pole on the Miami GP.
Requested whether or not he could make progress within the Dash. Hamilton replied: “Not really. I think all the cars ahead are faster. I don’t know what else to say.”
As for making enhancements after the Dash going into Grand Prix Qualifying afterward Saturday, Hamilton added:
“There are always ideas. Whether or not they will be right or not…there’s definitely learnings to be taken – set-up changes, how the car behaved, there’s definitely work to do to pick up speed going into the rest of the weekend.”
Sky Sports activities F1’s Miami GP schedule
Saturday Could 3
- 3.20pm: F1 Academy Qualifying
- 4pm: MIAMI GP SPRINT (race begins at 5pm)
- 6.30pm: Ted’s Dash Pocket book
- 7.50pm: F1 Academy Race 1
- 8.35pm: Miami GP Qualifying build-up*
- 9pm: MIAMI GP QUALIFYING*
- 11pm: Ted’s Qualifying Pocket book*
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Look again at among the most dramatic moments to have taken place across the Miami Worldwide Autodrome.
Sunday Could 4
- 6pm: F1 Academy Race 2
- 7.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Miami GP build-up*
- 9pm: The MIAMI GRAND PRIX*
- 11pm: Chequered Flag: Miami GP response*
- Midnight: Ted’s Pocket book
*additionally dwell on Sky Sports activities Foremost Occasion
Method 1 is in Miami for a Dash weekend, watch all of it dwell on Sky Sports activities F1. Stream Sky Sports activities with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
