How Leclerc wants to avoid reliving the 2019 scenario

He was already young, already dashing, and above all already meteoric on a tour. For his first season with Ferrari in 2019, Charles Leclerc had taken pole position in Singapore – his sixth career – following his two victories at Spa-Francorchamps and Monza. Definitively dubbed by the tifosi in Italy a few weeks earlier after having heroically resisted Lewis Hamilton in the temple of speed, the young nugget from the bosom of Team then intended to achieve the pass of three and his pole position won on Saturday clearly allowed him to foresee this objective, on a circuit marked by 66% conversion of pole into success on Sunday, since the induction of Singapore on the calendar in 2008.

On Sunday, Charles got off to a good start and remained in the lead at the first corner. And then, it was time for pit stops. Ferrari then decided to bring in Hag First of all. Then Charles Leclerc the next round. Despite a quicker stop on the car n°16 (2"4 against 3"0 for the German), the undercut proved to be extremely powerful and worked in favor of the German, who definitely took the lead of the race. The Monegasque noticed this when leaving the pit lane, when he returned to the track at a respectable distance from his quadruple world champion teammate. On the radio, the man who drove for Sauber the year before was cursing at the top of his voice. 

At that precise moment, the first commentators reported that the Italian structure had acted to put its former leader Sebastian Vettel back in the saddle, who was literally overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of his young teammate, who had just won his first two Grands Prix a few weeks earlier. . The truth is a little less conspiratorial and it was Charles Leclerc this Saturday who brought it. “Of course I was frustrated that day, I remember it well, he said in a burst of laughter. But it was probably the best decision for the team at that moment because it helped us get a double, which wouldn't have been possible without the undercut. » The threatening presence of Lewis Hamilton did not allow Ferrari to obtain the necessary margin to maintain the established order on the track. The decision was therefore made to sacrifice the victory promised to Leclerc to ensure a Ferrari double. “Scuderia comes first (Ferrari goes first)», it's well known ! 

This Sunday, October 2, 2022, Charles Leclerc will start again from pole position after having miraculously emerged victorious from a strange qualifying session. This time, he will surely not have to fear the sacrifice of his race for the benefit of his teammate, since Carlos Sainz will start from 4th position. “That said, if it happened again tomorrow, I would probably be as frustrated as I was in 2019, because I'm here to win and that's what I intend to do on Sunday. »

Sergio Perez and Lewis Hamilton will be chasing Charles Leclerc on Sunday. © Antonin Vincent / DPPI

Unless the Spaniard gets off to a great start and finds himself in second position at the end of the first lap, Leclerc should be fine on that front. On the other hand, he will remain prey to the power of the undercut, which he imagines will be very powerful again on Sunday. “The strategy will be very important, he confirmed. The situation will be different compared to 2019, but it will be more exciting (with 3 teams fighting for victory). It is obvious that the undercut will play a very important role tomorrow. »

The Scuderia driver is in fact aiming for a 6th career victory, which he expects more for himself than to try to delay the announced coronation of Max Verstappen. “It is important for me to win as many races as possible between now and the end of the season, nothing more, he said at a press conference after qualifying. Realistically, it's a matter of time for Max's title. We will focus on ourselves for the end of the season, and try to maximize the package. The rest, I don’t care…” The three keys to the race for Leclerc, on a track where overtaking is ultra-complicated? A good start, eyes glued to the mirrors… and watch out for the undercut! 

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