Karun Chandhok says ‘devastatingly fast’ driver is even better in qualifying than Max Verstappen

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There are so many factors that need to be considered when trying to analyse who the best driver on the Formula 1 grid is.

The strengths and weaknesses of each driver are either amplified or hidden by the performance of the car, but some things can be examined more closely by looking at data or simply watching each race weekend.

Karun Chandhok was speaking on Sky Sports F1’s social media channels and asked to build the perfect driver from the current grid.

While what happens during each race is ultimately the most important aspect of any Grand Prix event, qualifying also plays a huge role.

Charles Leclerc proved that on the streets of his home circuit in Monaco last Sunday and Chandhok believes the Monegasque driver is the best qualifier on the grid.

Considering the likes of Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton have nearly 150 pole positions between them it’s a bold claim.

However, Leclerc has proved time and again that he’s supremely fast over one lap.

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Karun Chandhok believes Charles Leclerc is the best qualifier in Formula 1

When looking at the statistics, there’s one driver who’s head and shoulders above the rest of the grid in terms of pole positions.

Lewis Hamilton has 104 poles to his name with his most recent coming last year in Hungary in a season dominated by Red Bull.

Max Verstappen has the next most pole positions of the active drivers on the grid with 39 with Leclerc two ahead of Fernando Alonso on 24 and 22 respectively.

What makes Leclerc’s performance so impressive is the fact that his Ferrari has rarely been the fastest car in the paddock.

This was shown last season when he managed to wrestle five pole positions away from Verstappen throughout the year.

However, the supreme power of his Red Bull showed and he couldn’t convert any of those first-place starts into wins.

That looks like it could change in 2024 and although winning from pole in Monaco is hardly the sign of a trend given the unique circumstances that track presents.

However, Ferrari are a much closer match for Red Bull this season and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him started from the front row of the grid on many other occasions this year.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Scuderia Ferrari from team principal to factory

Charles Leclerc has great chance to add to pole position tally this season

The first attribute Chandhok was asked about was qualifying and he said: “For qualifying pace, I would pick Charles Leclerc.

“I think over the last two or three years, over a single lap, he has been devastating fast at extracting the maximum grip out of the tyres.”

Carlos Sainz started the season brilliantly for Ferrari despite being told he would be leaving the team at the end of the season.

This put Leclerc under a little bit of pressure and Natalie Pinkham suggested at one point that Leclerc was racing for his reputation.

However, since the Chinese Grand Prix, Leclerc has shown why he’s the driver Ferrari have retained to partner Lewis Hamilton in 2025.

He’s been on the podium in each of the last four races including the Sprint Race in Miami and opened up a 30-point gap over his teammate.

Leclerc is now Max Verstappen’s closest rival in the Drivers’ Championship and he’ll be desperate to take advantage of Red Bull no longer having a gap over the rest of the grid.