Charles Leclerc expecting ‘very difficult’ Qatar GP for Ferrari – here’s why

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Charles Leclerc expects the Sprint format to leave Ferrari facing a ‘very difficult’ time at the Qatar Grand Prix given the uncertainties the format hands the Formula 1 teams.

This weekend sees the Sprint format return for the first time since the Belgian GP at the end of July. It is the fourth of the six weekends to feature a Sprint event this season ahead of the US GP and the Sao Paulo GP. But further uncertainties hurt Leclerc’s expectations for Ferrari.

Lusail International Circuit chiefs have resurfaced the 5.4km (3.3m) track ahead of Formula 1 visiting for the second time. The circuit is traditionally a MotoGP track but hosted its maiden F1 Grand Prix in 2021. Liberty Media then agreed to a 10-year contract for further Qatar GP.

Leclerc issues Ferrari a serious warning for the Qatar GP

A lack of support series this weekend will leave the 10 Formula 1 teams to now lay down the rubber. While the Sprint format also throws up extra challenges as the squads rush to gather all data to fine-tune and lock-in their set-ups for the race ahead of qualifying on Friday night.

Leclerc believes the ‘extremely hot’ temperatures expected for FP1 give Ferrari an additional problem for the Qatar GP, too. It is expected to reach 38°C in FP1 before dropping to 32°C in time for qualifying. Ferrari have often fought with high tyre degradation in hotter conditions.

Speaking ahead of the Qatar GP, Leclerc said, via quotes by the Mirror: “It’s definitely going to be very difficult because we’ve got extremely hot temperatures, where we normally take a bit of time to understand what’s the limit for the cooling, etc.

“And now we only have one session, on a track that has been completely resurfaced, also. So, there are many things that we need to learn in only one session.

“So, it can either go incredibly well or incredibly wrong. We have done a lot of work to prepare [for] this race, in order for it to go very well, so I hope that will be the case.”

Lusail could scupper Leclerc’s strong Sprint record in 2023

Ferrari have performed well in qualifying during the previous Sprint rounds this season with Leclerc taking pole position for the Azerbaijan GP, P2 for the Austrian GP and P2 again at the Belgian GP. But the Scuderia have a finer understanding of those tracks compared to Lusail.

Leclerc has also fared well traditionally at the Azerbaijan, Austrian and Belgian Grand Prix so far in his F1 career. The 25-year-old did not have a great weekend when Formula 1 last raced in Qatar, though. He could only qualify in P13 and finished the race down in P8 back in 2021.

The Monegasque had an inauspicious time at Lusail but Carlos Sainz with the other Prancing Horse did not fare much better. Ferrari saw the Spaniard qualify in P7, behind Pierre Gasly in P4 for AlphaTauri. Sainz further finished the race in P7, behind both Alpines and Lance Stroll.