Charles Leclerc Fully Accepts Responsibility for Ferrari’s Bold Plan B

Charles Leclerc has taken full responsibility for Ferrari’s bold qualifying strategy at the Spanish Grand Prix, which saw him start seventh on the grid at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. He only made one flying lap on the soft tires in Q3, while his main rivals completed two runs each.

The Monegasque driver explained that he chose to save a fresh set of soft tires for the race, believing this approach could give him an edge in what is expected to be a two-stop contest.

With the hard C1 compound not performing well during practice, tire management was a key part of Leclerc’s plan for Sunday.

After qualifying, Leclerc said that while it is always easier to have two attempts, the decision was entirely his and not the team’s. He wanted the flexibility of a backup lap, just in case the first run went badly.

Despite the Ferrari team suggesting a run at the end of the session, Leclerc opted to go earlier, hoping that a ‘plan B’ would still be possible if his initial effort did not work out. He admitted he would also have to accept any negative outcome if the gamble fails during the race.

Leclerc was outqualified by five drivers, including Lewis Hamilton in fifth and Oscar Piastri, who took pole position. He has only been beaten in qualifying by Hamilton twice this season. Hamilton’s response to Ferrari claims reflects the ongoing rivalry between the two drivers.

Speaking after the session, Leclerc described P7 as lower than expected, even given his tire-saving strategy. He emphasized that if the race does not go his way, he is prepared to take the blame for a poor weekend but is also ready to claim credit if Ferrari’s approach pays off. His confidence and mindset before the Spanish GP show his commitment to the team’s strategy.

Earlier in the weekend, Leclerc felt positive about the car after Friday’s practice sessions. However, by Saturday, he reported that performance had dropped, and the team was not able to match the pace shown by McLaren, Red Bull, or Mercedes in qualifying.

The McLaren and Lewis Hamilton battle in Monaco highlights the competitive nature of this season’s top teams.

The decision to change the standard strategy came in response to the tire data and track conditions observed during previous runs. Only the race will reveal whether holding back an extra set of softs was the right call.

The Spanish Grand Prix qualifying session saw close margins at the front, with multiple teams showing strong pace. This left Ferrari searching for ways to use strategy to gain ground.

The unpredictable nature of Formula 1 means that even small decisions can have a big impact over the race distance. With the grand prix set for June 1, Leclerc and Ferrari will be hoping their calculated risk turns into a strong result.

The outcome could either highlight Leclerc’s racecraft and decision-making or force the team to reassess their approach for qualifying and tire usage in future rounds.