Leclerc laments “very poor” qualifying efficiency for F1 Dutch GP

Charles Leclerc has supplied a damning evaluation of his qualifying efficiency on the Dutch Grand Prix, with the Ferrari Components 1 driver down in sixth. 

Leclerc has been off the tempo all weekend with the Monegasque not but ending a session above sixth, persevering with Ferrari's tough 2025 season to date with it far behind chief McLaren. 

The Monegasque revealed Ferrari made “lots” of modifications on the automotive in a single day, however there was little enchancment with Leclerc two locations behind what he thought was doable in qualifying. 

“I am very disenchanted with myself, to be trustworthy,” Leclerc, who was 0.678s off polesitter Oscar Piastri, advised Sky Sports activities.

“I have not performed the job in the present day and I have been very poor. The entire weekend has been somewhat bit on the backfoot on my aspect. I have been making an attempt to alter and to chase one thing that possibly wasn't within the automotive this weekend for one motive or one other. 

“We have been shedding lots of lap time in two, three corners. I assume that sort of stayed the identical throughout qualifying. To not an excessive extent as a lot as in free observe however nonetheless we have been shedding.

“By looking for one thing that wasn't within the automotive, I feel the consistency of the weekend had been damage somewhat bit, and I simply did not do job, particularly in qualifying – I am actually not pleased with my Q3 lap.”

This end result comes after Leclerc certified on pole final day out in Budapest, however his SF-25 felt “lots” totally different from the Hungarian Grand Prix – the place he finally completed fourth.

Group-mate Lewis Hamilton was extra upbeat although, regardless of being outqualified by Leclerc because the seven-time world champion will begin in seventh for Sunday's grand prix.

However it was Hamilton's first Q3 look since July's British Grand Prix, after a Q1 exit in Belgium and Q2 in Hungary, leaving him buoyed by the progress.

“It is undoubtedly encouraging, at the least on my aspect of the storage, to have a greater end result,” stated Hamilton. 

“The boys within the storage deserve it and the staff deserve it, so I am blissful I may very well be there or thereabouts.

“However after all, we're not the place we wish to be. To be seven tenths off, six-and-a-half tenths off in qualifying on a monitor like this, that is an enormous quantity.

“We have got to attempt to perceive what that's, as a result of Charles was P1 within the final race. However naturally, we do nonetheless have that deficit.”

When requested the place he thought Ferrari's largest deficit to McLaren was, Hamilton replied: “The most important restrict for us, I feel, is a mix of issues. However finally, we want extra load to undergo the corners as quick as McLaren right here, for some motive.

“Now, is that load or is that coming from the tyres? It is tough to know. Possibly they get into the tyres in a distinct working window to us, probably. Or it is a mixture of each. Finally, I feel McLaren undoubtedly have extra downforce than everyone. However they are not very draggy.

“If we have been to attempt to match them, we might should go up a few ranges of wing, however have the effectivity of a decrease wing after which it is only a mixture of getting the automotive to be extra steady by means of a nook.

“I feel the wind makes it actually difficult. So you've got received tailwinds into one and crosswinds in a number of totally different locations. I feel this automotive is to be fairly delicate to wind.”