Motorsports
Formula 1, Leclerc: “We were surprised by our speed”
Charles Leclerc said his second pole position in three games this year – and even with a difference of 3 tenths to Ferstappen – was somewhat unexpected and claimed he expects Red Bull to be quicker at tomorrow’s Australian GP.
Ferrari’s Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc set the fastest lap in the effort of both pioneers in the third round of qualifying tests before and after Fernando Alonso’s accident. It was something he said he wasn’t expecting after yesterday’s “confused” Scuderia free tests at the Melbourne circuit.
Following Scuderia’s first position in Melbourne since 2007 and Kimi Raikkonen, Leclerc said: “It feels good [της πολ ποζίσιον], especially as I’ve always struggled as a driver at this track in the past. I don’t know, it probably doesn’t suit me at all.
“We worked very hard these three days. It was a bit confusing for me in the three free trials. I did some rounds but never managed to compose a good one. “So I feel great.” Added Monegasque.
“The car feels good, but this red bull was very fast in the second tests, in the laps. So we were surprised by our speed in the ranking tests. “Anything is possible tomorrow, we just have to get off to a good start and maybe we can keep that first place.”
However, things did not go so well for his counterpart Carlos Saint. The Spaniard didn’t have time to complete his first lap in Q3 for a few meters due to the red flag for Alonso’s accident. And in the second attempt, a small driving error at the start left him in a poor 9th place.
Furthermore, Leclerc said he – like all drivers – had a serious vision problem at the end of today’s Melbourne qualifier due to the sunset. The problem arose due to the delay of about half an hour after the Latifi-Stroll and Alonso accidents.
“Honestly at Q2 I took big risks because I had no idea where the limits of the track were. We only speculated a bit, and given the rhythm of the three days, you more or less know that you simply have to turn “here”. So I got a darker jelly, specifically in the first part Q3 some clouds appeared which was perfect. But on the second lap, braking for the first corner was very, very difficult. “Even the darkest jelly I had wasn’t enough as it would be very dark at other parts of the track where the sun was hiding from the clouds.”closed.
Source: sport 24
Sophia Jhon is a sports journalist and author. He has worked as a news editor for Sportish and is now a sport columnist for the same publication. Alberta’s professional interests lie largely in sports news, with an emphasis on English football. He has also written articles on other sporting topics.
Motorsports
Former F1 pilot: “Look, everyone has already forgotten about him. Only a month has passed”
Former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya believes that it will be extremely difficult for Yuki Tsunoda to return to the royal motorsport.
The Japanese driver joined Red Bull at the start of 2025, replacing Liam Lawson after two races. Even though he performed better than his predecessor, the team decided to replace him and there was no place for Tsunoda in the youth team.
In five years in Formula One, Tsunoda has competed in more than 100 Grands Prix. His best result was fourth at the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. He failed to score a single podium or victory despite having several prize chances, but neither the team nor the driver realized these.
Montoya believes that Yuki is forgotten by almost all teams today:
“Look how sad Formula 1 is. Nobody even thinks about Yuki anymore. It’s only been a month and a week since the last race and Yuki is no longer on anyone’s radar. That’s the reality of this sport. One day you’re a hero, the next day you’re a nobody. When you’re a hero, you have to take advantage of that opportunity.”
Source: Sport UA
Ruth Waterhouse is an author and sports journalist who writes for Sportish. She is known for her coverage of various sports events and her insightful analysis of sports-related news. With a passion for sports and a keen eye for detail, she has become a respected voice in the sports community.
Max Verstappen has said he does not pay much attention to rumors that some teams may have possible technical advantages in their new Formula 1 power units.
It has recently been claimed that Mercedes and Red Bull have found a way to further increase engine power, while other teams are trying to eliminate this possible advantage. The FIA will meet with power unit manufacturers on January 22 to discuss the issue before the season starts.
Rumor has it that such optimization could produce around 15 hp, which is a significant figure at the beginning of a new era in technical regulations.
When asked whether Red Bull had an advantage in the pre-season, Verstappen replied:
“It’s impossible to know. Everyone is trying to do the best they can and I, especially me, have to focus on driving the car. I’m not here to be an engine engineer and explain all the details. Ultimately, this is a matter between the FIA and the engine manufacturers. I drive the car and I believe we always do everything we can to get the best out of the engine.”
Source: Sport UA
Ruth Waterhouse is an author and sports journalist who writes for Sportish. She is known for her coverage of various sports events and her insightful analysis of sports-related news. With a passion for sports and a keen eye for detail, she has become a respected voice in the sports community.
Red Bull Formula 1 team president Laurent Mekies believes the Bulls will be behind their rivals at the start of the 2026 season, given the production of their engines and new aerodynamic rules.
“We know it will be difficult for us, especially at the beginning of the season. I think we will fall behind our rivals, but we need to hold on for a few more months.”
“I hope we come back to the top, but it would be naive to think that Red Bull will be ahead right away. We will be behind at the start,” said Mekis.
Bulls will produce its engines in collaboration with Ford from 2026.
Source: Sport UA
Ruth Waterhouse is an author and sports journalist who writes for Sportish. She is known for her coverage of various sports events and her insightful analysis of sports-related news. With a passion for sports and a keen eye for detail, she has become a respected voice in the sports community.
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