Charles Leclerc blames George Russell’s FP2 crash for missing out on extra running

Charles Leclerc faced setbacks in FP2 due to George Russell's crash, limiting his preparation for his fourth race win.

Charles Leclerc blames George Russell’s FP2 crash for missing out on extra running

Charles Leclerc (Left) & George Russell (Right)

Mercedes is having a tough weekend as they head into the Mexican Grand Prix, still reeling from difficulties in the last two races. Their performance in Austin and earlier events revealed problems with their car setup and pace, leaving the team searching for ways to regain their competitive edge.

George Russell faced a setback when he crashed during qualifying in Austin while using the new package. Unfortunately, things didn’t improve in Mexico, as similar issues cropped up during practice sessions, even after switching back to the old package.

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Amid this chaos, Charles Leclerc also faced setbacks when George Russell’s crash brought out a Red Flag. Although Leclerc had been driving well, the interruption prevented him from completing the laps he wanted. This hindered his ability to gather vital data and fine-tune his car. Despite these challenges, he still finished in the top four, but the lost time limited his preparation for the race.

Unfortunately, we didn’t get that extra running time to make up for it due to the red flag after George’s (Russell) incident at the start of FP2.

Charles Leclerc stated

In FP1, Oliver Bearman got the chance to drive Leclerc’s car at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez racing circuit. Leclerc confirmed that skipping FP1 was part of the strategy to give Bearman some valuable experience before he starts with Haas next year.

Missing FP1 seemed like a smart move, as it was a session he could easily skip. The team believed they could make up for the lost time in FP2, which they extended by 30 minutes. However, things didn’t go as planned, leading to challenges for Leclerc throughout the day.

It was a tricky day from my side. It was planned for me to miss FP1, which was a good one to miss on paper, as we thought we would make up for it in FP2 given that it was 30 minutes longer than usual.

Charles Leclerc said

Charles Leclerc focused on maximizing results in Mexico City quali session

Leclerc emphasized that incidents like Russell’s accident, which disrupted his outing, often happen, and the team needs to move on. As Day 1 ended, the Monegasque expressed his focus on maximizing results in qualifying.

Charles Leclerc
Charles Leclerc (via IMAGO)

The last race in Austin was a pleasant surprise for Maranello after their impressive 1-2 finish. Both fans and the team expect similar results, and the 27-year-old hopes to secure pole position.

Things like this can happen, now we are already focused on maximising our result in qualifying as starting positions are crucial on this track. The pace was there from the start and I felt comfortable in the car, so let’s see what position we can secure tomorrow.

Charles Leclerc highlighted

Leclerc mentioned that the car’s speed is good, which gives him confidence ahead of the upcoming sessions. The Maranello-based squad has shown they are contenders for the 2024 Constructors’ title, posing a serious threat to Red Bull.

Currently, they are just eight points behind Red Bull in the standings. The Mexican Grand Prix will determine if they secure second place in the Constructors’ Championship or if the Austrian outfit manages to hold on.