Leclerc's Ferrari woes continue after 'frustrating' issue reoccurs

11:29, 22 Nov

Updated: 11:30, 22 Nov

byKada Sarkozi

Charles Leclerc expressed frustration after struggling in wet conditions with Ferrari, something he explained has been a recurring theme.

"It's very frustrating because it's been probably my biggest strength in the junior categories coming up."

- Charles Leclerc

Leclerc finished only ninth in qualifying for the Las Vegas GP, while Lewis Hamilton got eliminated already in Q1, setting the 20th time.

After the session, the Monegasque driver explained that Ferrari having issues in wet conditions has been ongoing for some time.

He said in Las Vegas: "Unfortunately, since I've been at Ferrari, we are struggling massively in the wet. We don't quite find the solution. We've been trying like crazy, but it just doesn't work.

"It's very frustrating because it's been probably my biggest strength in the junior categories coming up.

"We are just struggling like crazy whenever it's wet. The tyres don't switch on and we just have very, very poor grip."

He then explained this issue is not only connected to warming the tyres up: "I don't think it's only that because we've been trying things on the tyre warm-up as well in the past and it didn't work, so frustrating."

Leclerc set only the ninth quickest time in qualifying - Photo: Race Pictures

Leclerc aims to fix Ferrari's wet condition flaws

Leclerc said the conditions were not nice in Sin City, which made it even more difficult. "Especially when our car is very, very difficult to drive. Plus, here in Vegas on a street track, by night, cold conditions, wet conditions, everything is adding up for it to be a very difficult qualifying session. But, yeah, it's the way it is."

He concluded: "It's clear that we've got to do steps forward. It's extremely difficult to drive for us.

"On my side, I can only say that it's unbelievably difficult to drive. I know exactly what I need to go to go faster, however, it's very difficult to achieve that. But we'll keep trying."

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