Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc ended the Hungarian F1 race at the seventh position following a delay due to a jack issue at a pit stop and an incurred penalty for speeding in the pitlane, which led to his dropping a position to George Russell.
Leclerc was also observed during the race questioning the timing of a strategy call, but he downplayed the emotional tone attached to the message.
“We’re encountering numerous issues with the radio,” he explained. “Around one in four words isn’t comprehended by my engineer, since our radios have been problematic in three or four races.
“We need to address this issue. I often raise my voice to ensure I’m heard.
“My main concern was to avoid miscommunication. I wanted the team to adopt an early aggressive approach, not a late one. The emotional tone was largely due to our radio issues,” he added.
He noted, “The situation is challenging. We haven’t managed to accomplish what I intended in some races, but today we did. However, the slow stop considerably set us back.”
Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari
Photo by: Michael Potts / F1 Flow Images
Leclerc conceded that the afternoon at the Hungaroring was “difficult” and “frustrating”, as his streak of poor races persisted.
“The pitstop took longer than expected, and we received a five-second penalty for speeding in the pit lane. So, yes, it’s been another challenging weekend.
“It’s genuinely frustrating because I felt I performed well today with the car I had, yet no one seems to notice it.
“Whenever I underperform, it’s conspicuous. It’s tough, but that’s how it is. It’s now up to us to make progress as McLaren did. We’ve been lagging behind, as evidenced by the last three weekends.
“There’s a lot to improve on. Honestly, I believe the outcome today doesn’t reflect how it felt. Despite the slow stop and subsequent delay behind Lance Stroll, the first stint seemed pretty good.
“I had to push hard. We were then with Carlos Sainz, which cost us some time. Then, in the third stint, I pushed again and the car felt fine.
“However, the results appear more disappointing than the reality. It’s obvious, especially compared to Lando Norris, that we’re still falling short.”
Leclerc confirmed there wasn’t a recurrence of the tyre wear issue that plagued them earlier in the season.
“Considering the pressure, I don’t think the tyre degradation was that bad,” he said. “But I’d prefer not to comment too much on it. While driving, you only have your own perspective.
“During the first stint with Lewis Hamilton ahead, I felt we managed our tyres well. Similarly, in the third stint with Oscar Piastri, I felt our tyre management was good.
“But I have no clue about what the top three drivers were doing. I’ll need to look into that.”
Read Also:
McLaren Denies Favouritism in Norris’s Hungary F1 Strategy Call
Zhou’s Hungarian GP virtually ended after “peculiar” Alfa F1 start malfunction
Ocon’s seat fractured into two after airborne crash at Hungary F1
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Charles Leclerc’s Hungarian F1 Race
What issues did Charles Leclerc face during the Hungarian F1 race?
Leclerc had to deal with a slow pit stop due to a jack issue, a penalty for speeding in the pit lane, and ongoing radio communication problems during the Hungarian F1 race.
What place did Charles Leclerc finish in the Hungarian F1 race?
Charles Leclerc finished in seventh place in the Hungarian F1 race.
Why was Charles Leclerc’s tone emotional during the race?
Leclerc’s emotional tone during the race was due to ongoing problems with radio communication, which often resulted in his engineer misunderstanding one out of four words.
What was Charles Leclerc’s strategy for the race?
Leclerc wanted the team to adopt an aggressive strategy early on in the race rather than late.
What was the nature of the tyre degradation issue in earlier races?
In earlier races, Leclerc and his team struggled with tyre degradation. However, during the Hungarian F1 race, Leclerc felt they did a good job with tyre management, despite the high pressure.
More about Charles Leclerc’s Hungarian F1 Race
- Charles Leclerc’s profile
- Ferrari’s F1 Team
- Recap of the Hungarian F1 Race
- F1 Race Strategies
- F1 Pit Stop Rules and Penalties
- Understanding F1 Tyre Management
7 comments
It’s high time Ferrari sorted out their radio issues. affecting race strategies now, what a nightmare!
dang! Leclerc can’t catch a break, can he? radio probs, slow pit stop, speeding penalties…what’s next?
Early agressive strategy.. sounds interesting. Wonder how it would’ve played out without the radio glitches.
if ferrari doesn’t fix these issues they’re gonna be left in the dust. literally. McLaren’s making moves.
sevenTH?! really! with a ferrari under him? That’s just unacceptable, Charles.
Radio issue, slow pitstop but still 7th? Not bad at all. give the man some credit folks.
Not bad tyre management considering pressure. Good job Leclerc! hope they bounce back stronger.