Charles Leclerc

MELBOURNE— Ferrari's Charles Leclerc expressed disappointment after he could only manage seventh in qualifying for the Formula One Australian Grand Prix on ...

“I think the car was actually quite good.” “That car is quick. “Honestly, the feeling is better, but again today I’m not particularly happy about the way I drove,” he said.

Max Verstappen took pole position in Melbourne while Lewis Hamilton, George Russell and Fernando Alonso were all happy – but Ferrari and McLaren had a ...

And then when you combine that with trying to overdrive a little bit too much, then I made the mistakes like I did today. [Ferrari](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/ferrari-f1) and [McLaren](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/mclaren-f1) were also hoping to have reason to be cheerful after qualifying, given their own tepid starts to the 2023 campaign. [Charles Leclerc](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/charles-leclerc) and [Lando Norris](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/lando-norris) both shouldered the blame for their respective disappointing results in qualifying for the [Australian Grand Prix](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/australian-grand-prix). But Norris knows he has to shoulder some of the blame himself. "Q3 I managed to feel a bit better in the car, quite confident I could put everything together. [George Russell](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/george-russell) went second fastest with [Lewis Hamilton](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/lewis-hamilton) just one place behind to finally give Silver Arrows fans something to cheer about this season. "But [it's] a tricky car to drive, one that is easy to go over the limit on anyway. [Alex Albon](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/alexander-albon) was 10th quickest in Q2 and the [Williams](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/williams-f1) driver was three tenths quicker than the McLaren man, highlighting that the performance is just not there yet in the MCL60. [Mercedes](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/mercedes-f1) were the big winners on Saturday, given how their campaign has gone so far. [Carlos Sainz](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/carlos-sainz) will start the race fifth with Leclerc two places further back, and the Monegasque knows he deserves no better and was left frustrated with his own performance. I'm not quite finding the rhythm that I want and the knowledge of every corner where the limit is exactly, so I wouldn't say I'm probably driving at the level I feel like I should hold myself to. [Oscar Piastri](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/oscar-piastri) had an extra motivation to perform in front of his home crowd, but fell at the first hurdle to set only the 16th fastest time.

Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz were seen in an intense exchange after the qualifying session for the Australian Grand Prix.

Then I just had to put everything together, which I think in Q3 was getting a little bit better.” I think tomorrow will be a bit better." It's a bit frustrating, but you can't deny it, I was still in trouble today. "I knew I had to line up everything in my last lap of Q3. Unfortunately we were waiting for the rain so we didn't do a warm-up lap, which made things more difficult. Got a bit of speed there, always nice."

With just 26 points on the board, and nursing a tyre-eating car, Ferrari are down in fourth place in the Constructors' Championship with Carlos Sainz equalling ...

"I wasn't driving well. I wasn't putting everything together, so that was my fault" - Charles Leclerc blames himself for his qualifying woe.

“I’m not particularly happy about the way I drove,” added Leclerc. “Q3, I managed to fare a bit better. So let’s see tomorrow whether we have improved it (the car). “Q1 and Q2, clearly, I wasn’t on it,” said Leclerc. The feeling was actually quite good. In the car, I was quite confident I could put everything together.