Formula 1 arrives at the 2026 Japanese GP with Ferrari betting on a strong start to fight for positions in Suzuka. Charles Leclerc starts in fourth and believes that the beginning of the race will be decisive to sustain the battle with rivals.
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The Monegasque highlighted that the qualifying performance left points of attention, especially in comparison with opponents in Q3. Still, he sees room to fight for a good result on Sunday.
During the session, Leclerc progressed consistently from Q1 to Q3, using only one set of Soft tires in the first two phases. This allowed him to reach the decisive moment with two new sets available.
In the first attempt in Q3, he clocked 1min29s434, finishing fifth. In the final lap, he managed to improve to 1min29s405, securing fourth position on the grid, ahead of Lando Norris.
Even satisfied with part of the performance, the driver pointed out limitations on the last lap. “I don’t think there was much more in the final lap, even though I lost time with a run-off in sector two,” he stated.
Leclerc also highlighted that the team needs to understand the evolution of rivals. “Q1 and Q2 were good, but our competitors seem to take an extra step in Q3. We need to analyze this to close the gap,” he said.
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For the race, the focus is on the start and maintaining position. “If we have a good start, that will be positive. Then, we need to focus on staying ahead, which will be difficult because we will have to fight all the time,” he added.
Team principal Fred Vasseur reinforced that Ferrari is still in a learning phase in its approach to qualifying. According to him, extracting the maximum from the car without exceeding the limits has been a challenge.
“We are understanding how to improve from Q1 to Q3 without being too aggressive. It’s not just about performance or energy management, but about how to get the best out of the car,” he explained.
For the race, the team is betting on a consistent pace and correct strategic decisions. “We are going to focus on the race, because it is on Sunday that points are decided. We expect a good start and the right strategy to maximize the result,” Vasseur concluded.
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