Charles Leclerc blasts qualifying in F1 2026 with foul-mouthed radio outburst at Japanese Grand Prix

Follow us on Google Discover

Charles Leclerc was not impressed after qualifying fourth at the Japanese Grand Prix, berating it over the radio in spectacular fashion.

Ferrari have had a strong start to 2026, but the SF-26 is not quite on the level of Mercedes, with Kimi Antonelli claiming pole position at Suzuka from teammate George Russell. Leclerc looked to be mounting a challenge, having gone P2 in Q1 and Q2.

However, the Monegasque driver lost time on his final run in Q3 and ultimately had to settle for the second row of the grid. Leclerc will start fourth behind Oscar Piastri, with Lewis Hamilton in sixth behind Lando Norris.

Kimi Antonelli beat George Russell to pole position in Japan by 0.298s – But who was your star of qualifying?

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

Charles Leclerc ‘can’t stand qualifying’ in 2026 in unheard radio outburst at Japanese Grand Prix

The Maranello outfit are struggling to keep up with their Brackley-based rivals out in front. Mercedes have more traction than Ferrari in the corners, which costs the latter valuable time.

Qualifying has been a contentious issue for teams at the Japanese Grand Prix. The FIA has reduced the battery recharge limit to 8 MJ for the weekend, thereby placing greater emphasis on individual performance.

However, problems have still arisen for the Prancing Horse. Leclerc says Ferrari are losing an ‘absurd’ amount of time through energy delivery in qualifying, and he was not impressed over the radio after the session.

When race engineer Bryan Bozzi confirmed he had finished the session in P4, he lamented: “Honestly, I honestly cannot stand with the quali, it’s a f—— joke. I go faster in corners, throttle earlier, for f— sake, I’m losing everything in the straight.”

READ MORE: Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

Charles Leclerc frustrated by the time he lost on the straights in qualifying

Speaking to Canal+ after qualifying, Leclerc explains the issues he was having down the straights at Suzuka.

“Not at all, I think that was the best Q2 I’ve done and I don’t think I could replicate it. Honestly, even if from the onboard it looks like a mistake, in itself it was super beneficial for the Q2, there wasn’t much more in that lap.

“What’s more frustrating than anything else is the performance we lose from one run to the next in the straights with what we do with the driving.

“In Q3, last run, I tried to push a little bit more, it worked everywhere, but unfortunately we lose a tenth and a half just compared to my lap, only in the straights in the last sector, and that’s very frustrating, even if we know it’s a bit part of the game with this regulation.

“I’m not getting used to it and in the car you want to push, but well, that’s how it is.”