Charles Leclerc has no regrets after his 4th place in qualifying: "I don't think I'll be able to reproduce that in the race."

We had almost gotten used to seeing an established hierarchy at the front of the field in qualifying: two Mercedes Benz in the front line ahead of two Classic Ferrari for sale. But the Formula 1 is a sport in perpetual motion and it was agreed that the forces involved would evolve according to the calendar's layout.

It is therefore McLaren who has bounced back, in particular Oscar piastriThe Australian took third place, ahead of Charles Leclerc...relegated to nearly three-tenths of a second. The cause: a significant slide by the Monegasque driver's Ferrari at the exit of Spoon corner, which cost him precious tenths. But he doesn't want to dwell on it, believing it was his best run through turns 8 and 9 despite the tricky exit at Spoon.

"I think that was the best sequence of turns 8-9 I've done despite the slide in Spoon," Charles Leclerc confirmed this to Canal+. I don't think I'll be able to replicate that [in a race] given the gap I'm creating. It was only by creating that gap that I could carry so much speed. It might seem like a mistake, but it was incredibly beneficial. What's more concerning is the performance we lose from one lap to the next on the straights, considering what we're doing behind the wheel.

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Leclerc is not getting used to the new regulations

The Ferrari driver does not hide his frustration with the new regulations, which force drivers to manage energy deployment at the risk of losing big by approaching full charge zones with an empty battery. “In Q3, I pushed everywhere, it worked, but we still only lose a tenth or a tenth and a half on the straights of the last sector.” ", Leclerc grumbles. "It's very frustrating. We know it's part of the new regulations, but I can't get used to it. In the car, you just want it to stop."

🎙️ "It's very frustrating. Even though we know that's the way it is with these regulations, I can't get used to it."

4th, Charles Leclerc gives his qualifying debrief.#JapaneseGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/1Pp3aeiGlN

— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) March 28, 2026

Despite everything, the day remains quite positive for Ferrari: starting fourth, Charles Leclerc can still hope for an excellent start to gain positions even before the first corner. Since the beginning of the season, the Scuderia has shone with its starts, which often allow it to join the battle with the Mercedes. "It's good because we have a good car to begin with.", likes number 16. “After that, I still think that the further we go into the race, the smaller that initial advantage will become. I hope we can maintain it for as long as possible, and I hope that tomorrow (Sunday) we can gain a few positions. That would put us in a very different position after the first corner. If not, we're a bit better in the race compared to McLaren. Mercedes is also faster in the race, but we'll give it our all.”

Third in Australia, Charles Leclerc can realistically hope for a second podium finish this season after finishing fourth in China, behind his teammate Lewis Hamilton.