Charles Leclerc admitted he was feeling “unhealthy” after Ferrari’s “annoying” lack of tempo left him and team-mate Lewis Hamilton out of competition for Dash pole on the Miami Grand Prix.
Leclerc certified sixth on the Miami Worldwide Autodrome as he completed greater than three tenths of a second off Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, because the Italian teenager shocked McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris to say his maiden F1 pole.
Leclerc had seemed to be making progress in latest weeks as he backed up successive fourth-place finishes with Ferrari’s first podium of the season on the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix two weeks in the past, however the Monegasque was vastly dissatisfied after Friday’s motion.
Requested how he felt about Dash Qualifying, Leclerc replied: “Unhealthy. The lap was good, however the tempo is simply under no circumstances there for now, so it’s kind of annoying nevertheless it’s the best way it’s for now.
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Dash Qualifying highlights of the Miami Grand Prix from the Miami Worldwide Autodrome.
“I am going to attempt my greatest tomorrow to attempt to do one thing particular with the beginning, however to be trustworthy, there’s not a lot room for enchancment right this moment. It was simply… that is the tempo of the automobile.
“It is each nook, actually, so it is not like we’re notably weak in a single kind of nook. Sure, the slow-speed appears to be somewhat bit extra of our weak spot, nevertheless it adjustments from one weekend to the opposite, so it is simply not nice.”
Hamilton: We’re simply missing velocity
Hamilton has endured a vastly difficult begin to his debut marketing campaign with Ferrari following his blockbuster transfer to the Italian staff after 12 years at Mercedes.
The one notable vibrant second of the seven-time world champion’s first 5 rounds of the season got here when he took pole and gained the opening Dash of the yr in China, however that second has begun to appear to be a false daybreak.
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Lewis Hamilton mentioned he is working laborious to regulate to the Ferrari, and admitted he even discovered his first six months with Mercedes ‘powerful’.
There was hope Hamilton may as soon as extra excel within the Dash format in Miami, however the Brit was as soon as extra considerably off the tempo of Leclerc, with greater than two tenths separating them.
Hamilton mentioned: “It was a greater session. P1 was in all probability a bit higher, the automobile was a bit higher, the automobile was a bit nicer to drive. We’re simply missing velocity, however we simply hold working from there.”
The 40-year-old did not seem to really feel assured that Ferrari can shut the hole to the front-runners over the rest of the weekend.
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Mercedes’ teenage rookie Kimi Antonelli makes F1 historical past, changing into the youngest pole sitter, taking the Dash pole on the Miami GP.
Requested whether or not he could make progress within the Dash. Hamilton replied: “Probably not. I believe all of the vehicles forward are quicker. I do not know what else to say.”
As for making enhancements after the Dash going into Grand Prix Qualifying in a while Saturday, Hamilton added:
“There are all the time concepts. Whether or not or not they are going to be proper or not…there’s undoubtedly learnings to be taken – set-up adjustments, how the automobile behaved, there’s undoubtedly work to do to select up velocity going into the remainder of the weekend.”
Sky Sports activities F1’s Miami GP schedule
Saturday Could 3
3.20pm: F1 Academy Qualifying4pm: MIAMI GP SPRINT (race begins at 5pm)6.30pm: Ted’s Dash Notebook7.50pm: F1 Academy Race 18.35pm: Miami GP Qualifying build-up*9pm: MIAMI GP QUALIFYING*11pm: Ted’s Qualifying Pocket book*
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Look again at a few of the most dramatic moments to have taken place across the Miami Worldwide Autodrome.
Sunday Could 4
6pm: F1 Academy Race 27.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Miami GP build-up*9pm: The MIAMI GRAND PRIX*11pm: Chequered Flag: Miami GP response*Midnight: Ted’s Pocket book
*additionally stay on Sky Sports activities Predominant Occasion
System 1 is in Miami for a Dash weekend, watch all of it stay on Sky Sports activities F1. Stream Sky Sports activities with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
