F1 | Miami GP | Pole sitter Charles Leclerc: ”We need to finish the job tomorrow.”
The champio leader is pleased with his starting position, in spite of a sector one mistake which forced him to “push quite a lot” and warns that tomorrow’s race will be “tight”.
It's a third pole of the season for Charles Leclerc, and the first 1-2 lockout for Ferrari in 2022 in the inaugural F1 qualifying session in Miami. The Monegasque driver had set the best time in both Q1 and Q2, but Verstappen had been fastest and the only driver under the 1'29s after the first run in Q3. Leclerc then went on to sign a 1'28.796.
CHARLES LECLERC IS ON POLE FOR OUR INAUGURAL MIAMI GRAND PRIX! 🙌
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 7, 2022
A magnificent effort by the Monegasque driver 👏
It's a front row start for both @ScuderiaFerrari drivers#MiamiGP #F1 @Charles_Leclerc pic.twitter.com/CyMk4NYPJZ
He talked about how it feels to be having such a strong weekend after the severe mistake he made during the last race at Imola, and the importance of the American fans in the post qualifying session interview:
"The fans are crazy, it's incredible to be here in the US, and to see how much the sport has grown over the past few years, to see so many people in the grandstands it definitely motivates us. Also, a lot of Ferrari fans so yeah, it's amazing."
However, nothing is set in stone as points will be awarded after the race tomorrow, the Ferrari driver reminds everyone.
"The last weekend hasn't been great for me, I made a mistake in the race but today went well. We are starting on pole and we need to finish the job tomorrow."
Asked if he's worried about main rivals for tomorrow's win Red Bull's speed in the long straight between turn 16 and Turn 17, Leclerc replied:
"Well, yeah, they are extremely quick in the straight lines, we are quick in the corners and yeah, it will be a tight challenge tomorrow and hopefully we will come back on top," he concluded, confident in his team for the upcoming race.
Leclerc expanded on what helped him achieve his 12th career pole today later in an interview to Sky Sports Uk:
"Well, the car felt good. The lap had a mistake in the first sector, which costed me quite a bit, and then it was all about trying to catch up so I pushed quite a lot after that and the lap came together so yeah, I'm very happy."
"I feel at ease with the car here, it's a car where you have to think a lot to go fast, but for now I feel at ease with it. It's good to be starting on pole."
However, it's unknown whether the race pace showed so far by the Scuderia cars will be enough to keep at bay tomorrow both Red Bull cars, as Leclerc said:
"We don't know it yet, especially with Max because he didn't run in FP2 so... And with a bit more laps I'm pretty sure that he will be even more competitive, so it's going to be tight tomorrow. Of course, it's great to have Carlos by my side, and hopefully we can keep those positions until the end of the race."
