Charles Leclerc’s tumultuous weekend in Sao Paulo sharply contrasted with Ferrari’s recent stunning victories in Austin and Mexico, underscoring the unpredictable nature of Formula 1.
Starting from an optimistic sixth on the grid, Leclerc initially made an impressive getaway, swiftly advancing to fifth place. However, his momentum was soon stifled by the Ferrari’s inability to find grip on Pirelli’s intermediate tyres, an issue that plagued his race strategy.
The Monegasque driver found himself mired behind Yuki Tsunoda and Esteban Ocon, prompting his team to strategize an early pit stop in hopes of gaining positions through an undercut. This tactical decision was part of the Scuderia’s effort to exploit any potential gaps on the wet track.
However, Lady Luck was not on Ferrari’s side, as a virtual safety car period followed by a red flag curtailed their calculated strategy, nullifying Leclerc’s potential advantage from the early pit stop.
Despite this disruption, the Scuderia driver executed a remarkably sharp restart, pulling off a daring double overtake on Lando Norris and George Russell, thereby momentarily securing fourth place behind Max Verstappen and the Alpines of Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly.
Nonetheless, Leclerc’s fourth-place position was short-lived, as George Russell’s Mercedes soon overpowered him, relegating him back to fifth, a position he would ultimately hold until the checkered flag fell.
“It was a very long and tricky race and the drivers on the podium today are those who did not put a foot wrong, so they really deserve it,” Leclerc reflected post-race, acknowledging the fierce competition and the challenges faced during the race.
“I have mixed feelings about our race. On the one hand, it was a bit disappointing because we struggled to keep the car on track in these conditions, especially towards the end of the race.”
Leclerc recognized the challenges surrounding Ferrari’s decision to bring him in for an early pit stop, admitting, “That was a mistake,” he told the media, quoted by Motorsport Week. “It needs to be said as well that on a race like this, it’s very difficult to not do any mistakes in terms of strategy, because there are so many calls that you need to do.” He stressed that, although the intention was to find clear air and improve his position, the chaotic weather conditions complicated matters significantly.
“I wanted free air, so I asked the team to find free air,” he explained. “They boxed me that lap, but unfortunately, the pit entry and the pit exit time in the wet was a lot longer than what we thought.”
“I ended up in the middle of traffic with Ollie [Bearman] and Lewis, and from that moment I knew that we were losing so much. There was a Safety Car, and we lost like three, four positions.”
On the other side of the Ferrari garage, it was a weekend Carlos Sainz would rather forget, highlighted by two crashes that marked him throughout the event. He suffered one mishap during qualifying and another as the race unfolded.
Struggling for a position outside the points on lap 39, Sainz lost control of his vehicle and collided with the barriers, resulting in an early retirement from the race. Despite his talent, the persistent wet conditions seemed to thwart his efforts.
Sainz openly admitted to the frustrations he faced this weekend, expressing his disappointment. “Definitely a Sunday to forget for me,” Sainz lamented. “I’m sorry to have given the team extra work on a day that was already super long.” He further acknowledged, “I’ve struggled with this car in the wet this year, and today I just didn’t have the right feeling either.” This honest assessment reflects the challenges faced by drivers when contending not only with their machines but also with unpredictable weather conditions.
Be analyzed thoroughly, as we seemed to lose a lot of time there. It’s frustrating when you start with potential and things don’t go as planned.”
**Interview with Charles Leclerc Post-Sao Paulo Grand Prix**
**Interviewer:** Charles, thanks for joining us. Looking back at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, can you describe the emotions of the race?
**Charles Leclerc:** Thank you for having me. It was definitely a rollercoaster of emotions. I started the race feeling optimistic, but it quickly became challenging. The grip issues we faced with the intermediate tyres were really frustrating, and it put us on the back foot.
**Interviewer:** You made a strong start, moving up to fifth place early in the race. Did you feel that momentum would carry you further?
**Charles Leclerc:** Initially, yes. I thought we could build on that. The double overtake on Norris and Russell was a highlight for me, and it gave me hope. But once again, the track conditions and other factors just didn’t help our strategy.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned the early pit stop and the subsequent impact of the virtual safety car and red flag. In hindsight, how do you view that decision?
**Charles Leclerc:** Honestly, that’s part of what’s frustrating. It seemed like a good call at the time, but obviously, it didn’t pan out as we hoped. I’ll admit it was a mistake, and we need to review it thoroughly to learn and improve.
**Interviewer:** You’re now mathematically out of the championship race. How does that affect your mindset going into the remaining races?
**Charles Leclerc:** It’s disappointing, of course, but I’m focused on finishing the season strong. I want to help the team and build momentum for next year. Every race is an opportunity to learn and improve, and I’m determined to give my best until the end.
**Interviewer:** What’s your assessment of the competition out there? It seems incredibly fierce this season.
**Charles Leclerc:** Absolutely. The drivers on the podium today deserve their spots — they managed to avoid the mistakes that cost us. Formula 1 is incredibly unpredictable, and it always tests our limits. We need to adapt quickly and learn from every situation we find ourselves in.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Charles, for your insights. We look forward to seeing you in the next races.
**Charles Leclerc:** Thank you! I appreciate the support, and I’ll do my best to make the upcoming races exciting.
