This was not the house qualification session that Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton were waiting for.
The full name of the Historical Icola Circuit is the Internal Effective Enzo E Dino Ferrari, after the founder of Ferrari, Enzo Ferrari and his son Dino. The circuit is right on the path of the Maranello de Ferrari factory, and as one of the two formula 1 races in Italy, it serves as a local race for the Scuderia.
This year’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix acquired an additional importance, since he is the host of Hamilton’s first local race with Ferrari.
But both he and Leclerc could not advance in the qualification of the first quarter on Saturday and they were in a defeat after the session.
Leclerc and Hamilton were in the bubble when the time was reduced in the second quarter, and a bold bet of Aston Martin, which screwed the medium tires C5 in Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso’s cars at the end of Q2, was worth it. Aston Martin’s couple moved to Q3, eliminating Leclerc and Hamilton, who will begin P11 and P12, respectively.
Leclerc was speechless.
“[I’m] Very disappointed, special at home, in a special grand prize for the team, it only hurts, “Leclerc told the official F1 channel. I have no words about our performance today.
“The only thing we can say is that we regret this son of performance at home and in general. We are simply not good at this time and we have to do it better. Unfortunately, this is all I can say at this time and this is all we are trying to do is be better.”
Leclerc minimized any possibility of a front fight on Sunday, given its initial position. With the overtaking of an Imola premium and a unique strategy in the probable approach to the equipment, it may need chaos for Leclerc or Hamilton to rise through the network.
“The rhythm of the race was strong, but we are starting P11. Apart from that if something is happening, it will be difficult,” Leclerc added.
As for Hamilton, the seven -time pilot champion admitted that he was “destroyed” by the result.
“Hard. Sky Sports F1. “I really feel that we had taken so many positive steps over the weekend. The car usually felt better, the brakes were better today, the balance was really pleasant.
“In the Q2, executing one felt decent, and then, when we put on the new tires, for some I had no grip and I could not go faster.”
Hamilton admitted that his disappointment votes much of the fact that the race marks his first Italian race in red.
“The reason it is devastating is to see all those who have worked so hard in the garage, be in Italy for the first Italian race for me and Ferrari and not reach the third quarter, it is definitely bittersweet,” Hamilton added.
Saturday was another frustrating day in what has a mixed season for Ferrari. The team is fourth in the classification of the Constructors Championship with only one podium of the Grand Prix in the year, a P3 of Leclerc in the Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia. While Hamilton has delivered two podiums in the F1 Sprint races, including a victory in the F1 Sprint race in the China Grand Prix, the team waited more since the beginning of this year.
Now they have another night to wonder where they can improve.
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