Qualifying to be changed?
Charles Leclerc had already mentioned it on the Thursday at Suzuka, talking about what he experienced in the first two races regarding qualifying: “Really, really, really frustrating things happen. I might have lifted my foot off the accelerator by 2 or 3%, practically nothing, a vibration in my foot”, referring to the remodulation of the algorithm that generated a different and less advantageous energy management and therefore a loss of lap time. Leclerc again: “We are talking about something I have experienced since testing and I knew it could be a possibility and these kinds of things can happen. But when they happen it’s frustrating, especially in Q3”.
The Ferrari driver had already explained how going to the limit no longer pays off and that this Formula 1 tends to favor consistency in actions more than trying to pull a rabbit out of the hat.
Leclerc’s team radio at the end of Q3
It is therefore not surprising to see Charles Leclerc’s outburst at the end of qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix, frustrated more than ever towards these new regulations that do not seem to reward talent and the courage to go to the limit.
Opening up over the radio to his engineer Bryan Bozzi, he did not hold back: “Honestly, I can’t stand this qualifying, it’s a fucking farce. I’m faster in the corners, I accelerate earlier, but – for heaven’s sake! – I then lose everything on the straight!”
What will Formula 1 do?
It is no mystery that after the Japanese Grand Prix, Formula 1 will evaluate whether to make changes to the current regulations and in the list of things to analyze, qualifying is certainly at the top. In fact, consideration is being given to allowing a reduction in energy management, precisely to allow drivers to get closer to the limit, as happened in the past.
Read more Leclerc’s full frustration: “I lost a lot on the straight, disappointing 4th place”
