Charles Leclerc has expressed his frustration over Ferrari’s decision-making, following a conflict with his team regarding the best tyre selection for the Canadian Grand Prix qualifying, which resulted in his elimination in Q2.
The start of the second part of the qualifying saw a drying track, providing a chance to switch from intermediate wet weather tyres to slicks in pursuit of a faster lap time.
At the beginning, only Williams and Alex Albon decided to take a risk with slicks, however, Leclerc, realising the readiness of the track for slicks, communicated with his team, requesting a tyre change during his out lap on intermediates.
Ferrari initially denied his request, instructing him to continue with intermediates. As a result, he couldn’t take advantage of the optimal track conditions and only switched to slicks when the rain started to descend again.
“I called for slicks on the out lap, it was clearly [dry enough] for slicks,” Leclerc told media after the session.
“The track was dry, I think Alex did that and went earlier than everybody on the slicks. That was clearly the right choice, there was no risks taken whatsoever.
“But for some reason, the team decided otherwise. I think we are just making our life way too difficult in those situations.”
‘Not the first time’
Leclerc added that he would speak to the team in private after yet another frustration with strategy calls.
“I think there was no clearer way of me expressing myself this time,” Leclerc said. “I will speak internally with the team and try to understand what we can do. It’s obviously not the first time in those situations that we are on the wrong side.
“We have to be better than that, we can’t afford to do those mistakes again. I will speak with the team.”
