Leclerc reveals Ferrari braking issue after narrowly missing Singapore pole
The Ferrari driver believes pole position was within reach after finishing just 0.054 seconds behind Max Verstappen in qualifying.
Charles Leclerc believes Ferrari had the potential to secure pole position for the Singapore Grand Prix, despite an unusual braking problem that complicated his qualifying session at Marina Bay.
The Monegasque driver finished just 0.054 seconds behind Max Verstappen, who claimed pole with a lap of 1:31.373. Although Leclerc secured a front-row starting position, he admitted that small mistakes and technical difficulties had prevented him from extracting the full potential of his Ferrari SF-26.
With teammate Lewis Hamilton qualifying third, Ferrari demonstrated strong pace throughout the session, placing both cars directly behind Verstappen ahead of Sunday’s race.
Leclerc reveals unusual braking behaviour
Leclerc explained that his qualifying session had been particularly challenging during Q1 and Q2, when his Ferrari displayed unpredictable behaviour under braking.
« I managed to put my good lap together at the right moment, at the end, but I struggled a lot during qualifying, » Leclerc said.
« Q1 and Q2 were very complicated. »
The Ferrari driver revealed that the car was pulling slightly to one side during braking, a particularly uncomfortable characteristic on the demanding Marina Bay street circuit.
« There were some quite strange things happening with the brakes. The car was pulling slightly to one side under braking, which is really not pleasant on a circuit like this. »
With Singapore requiring precise braking through its numerous corners, the issue made it difficult for Leclerc to build confidence and maintain consistency.
However, the situation improved during Q3, allowing him to produce a competitive final lap and challenge Verstappen for pole position.
‘We had the potential for pole’
Despite the improvement, Leclerc acknowledged that his final qualifying attempt had not been perfect.
« In Q3, my lap was decent, but I made a few mistakes, » he explained.
« I think we had the potential to take pole today, but Max simply did a better job. »
The narrow margin separating the two drivers highlighted Ferrari’s competitiveness, but Leclerc accepted that Verstappen had delivered the stronger performance when it mattered most.
Missing pole by just 54 thousandths of a second left the Monegasque reflecting on what might have been possible with a cleaner lap.
Ferrari setup decisions under scrutiny
Leclerc also discussed Ferrari’s technical approach to qualifying, explaining that he had made relatively minor setup adjustments after feeling comfortable with the car during Friday’s running.
« On my side, I changed the car slightly to try to fine-tune the final details, » he said.
« I was quite happy with how it felt yesterday, so we changed a few things, but not a huge amount. »
However, the Ferrari driver admitted that one aerodynamic decision had not delivered the expected result during Q3.
« In the end, we just made a small misjudgement with the wing in Q3. »
« We could perhaps have done a little better, but I think if you asked every driver, they would all find something they could improve on their final lap. »
The comments suggest Ferrari came close to finding its ideal qualifying configuration, although minor compromises remained.
Ferrari well positioned to challenge Verstappen
Despite missing out on pole position, Ferrari heads into Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix with both drivers in strong starting positions.
Leclerc will line up second alongside Verstappen, while Hamilton starts immediately behind in third.
The result gives Ferrari an opportunity to apply pressure on the Red Bull driver, particularly at a circuit where overtaking is difficult and track position can prove decisive.
With Verstappen seeking his first Singapore Grand Prix victory, Leclerc and Hamilton will aim to convert Ferrari’s qualifying pace into a serious challenge for the win.
For Leclerc, the frustration of narrowly missing pole is balanced by the knowledge that Ferrari has demonstrated the performance needed to compete at the front.
