(Motorsport-Total.com) – For Charles Leclerc, the Canadian Grand Prix is increasingly turning into a nightmare. The Ferrari driver openly speaks after qualifying about the “most difficult weekend” of his entire Formula 1 career and makes no secret of his frustration.
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Since Friday, the Monegasque has been struggling with various problems on the SF-26. After brake problems at the beginning of the weekend, massive difficulties were added on Saturday in getting the tires into the right operating window at all.
The result: Leclerc lost again against teammate Lewis Hamilton, who has been able to beat him in both qualifying sessions in Montreal so far. While Hamilton emphasized after his strong performance how helpful his simulator-free preparation had been, Leclerc appeared completely clueless on Saturday evening.
“It was a disaster,” said the Ferrari driver bluntly. “I think it was the most difficult weekend of my career. That is not an exaggeration – it was just terrible.”
Tire problems drive Leclerc crazy
Especially the tires caused Leclerc enormous difficulties. For large parts of qualifying, the Ferrari driver could not get the tires into the optimal temperature window – a problem that only slightly improved on his last lap in Q3.
“From the brake problems yesterday to the difficulties today in getting the tires into the right window – the whole weekend was a catastrophe,” says Leclerc.
Only on the final attempt did the tires even approximately work. “Only on the last lap in Q3 did the tires come a bit closer to the operating window and worked a little better,” explains the Ferrari star.
What is particularly noticeable is that Leclerc has had problems with a fast lap in Montreal for years. When asked whether the Ferrari generally does not suit the track, the Monegasque even partially disagrees. “It rather feels like Charles Leclerc and Canada just don’t fit together,” he says with a resigned smile.
Because in terms of team pace, Ferrari seems quite competitive. Hamilton presented himself more stable over the entire weekend, while Leclerc again struggled with the peculiarities of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
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Qualifying remains Leclerc’s weak point in Montreal
Particularly curious: While Leclerc regularly has problems in qualifying in Canada, he feels much more comfortable in race trim. According to his own statement, this pattern has been going on for several years. “On the Ferrari side, it has worked for some of my teammates here,” he explains. “But for me personally, actually never – at least not in qualifying.”
That is exactly what makes the situation so unusual for him. “Normally the rule is: if it doesn’t work in qualifying, it doesn’t work in the race either,” says Leclerc. “Here, however, it is exactly the opposite.”
His driving style fits much better to long race stints than to a single fast lap. “I feel that my driving style works very well in the race here. But in qualifying, I always have to struggle.”
Already in the sprint, Ferrari actually showed strong pace, but overtaking was hardly possible. “This morning the pace was really good, but we couldn’t overtake,” explains Leclerc. “And yesterday as well as today, qualifying was simply a disaster.”
Rain could further worsen the situation
Particularly worrying for Ferrari: cold and wet conditions are forecast for race Sunday. Temperatures of only around twelve degrees Celsius and rain could further exacerbate the already difficult tire situation.
And that is exactly what Leclerc is very worried about. “These will be completely different conditions,” says the Ferrari driver. “Unfortunately, because of the problems I have had so far – and those were mainly temperature problems – I believe it could be even worse in the rain.”
Especially on the extremely smooth asphalt in Montreal, it could be difficult to get enough temperature into the tires. For Leclerc, that would be the worst possible starting point.
After an already frustrating weekend, the Ferrari driver thus faces the next big challenge precisely in the race – on a track with which he apparently still simply cannot get comfortable.
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