Sports · Motorsport · 10 hrs ago
Leclerc says battery decision may have cost him Singapore GP win
Charles Leclerc finished second to Max Verstappen in the Singapore Grand Prix at Marina Bay.
Leclerc started beside Verstappen and had a strong launch, but could not pass him at the first corner.
He said the narrow space made it hard to judge his braking.
In the opening laps, Verstappen had problems deploying power, but Leclerc thought they would happen only once and saved his battery.
By the time he realised the problem continued, he said it was too late to use his battery to attack.
Leclerc said using more battery might have helped early on, but he was unsure it would have changed the result because Verstappen had strong pace.
He also said starting on a different tyre was unlikely to help, and cautioned that Ferrari’s performance in Singapore did not prove it would stay competitive in later races.
Charles Leclerc said he may have lost a chance to win the Singapore Grand Prix by not using more battery when Max Verstappen had deployment problems.
Leclerc started second, alongside pole-sitter Verstappen, and finished second.
He said he initially thought Verstappen’s deployment issues were a one-off.
By the time Leclerc realised Verstappen had no power at the end of the straight, he said it was too late to use his own power.
Leclerc said Verstappen ultimately had too much pace, and he was unsure whether using the battery would have changed the result.
- Who
- Charles Leclerc, Max Verstappen and Ferrari.
- What
- Leclerc said he may have made a mistake by not using more battery when Verstappen had deployment issues. He finished second behind Verstappen.
- When
- Not stated
- Where
- The Singapore Grand Prix at Marina Bay Street Circuit.
- Why
- Leclerc thought Verstappen’s deployment issue was a one-off and did not use more battery to try to overtake. He said Verstappen ultimately had too much pace.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Leclerc started alongside Verstappen and went alongside him after a strong launch, but Verstappen kept the lead.
Leclerc saw opportunities when Verstappen had deployment issues but did not use more battery because he thought the issue was a one-off.
Leclerc pitted for fresh soft tyres during a late virtual safety car, according to Crash.net.
Verstappen won and Leclerc finished second.
- Result
- Verstappen first; Leclerc second
- Starting position
- Leclerc qualified second; Verstappen started from pole
- Circuit
- Marina Bay Street Circuit
- Battery decision
- Leclerc said he did not use more battery during Verstappen’s early deployment issues
- Tyre strategy
- Leclerc and Verstappen started on soft tyres
What people are saying
I always thought that it was a one-off, so I wasn't really using my battery, which maybe this was a mistake.
It was too late for me to use my power.
But I don't know if it will have changed much.
Sources
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