Charles Leclerc cryptic: “We were forced to lose performance”. What happened to Ferrari in Australian GP qualifying?. Charles Leclerc commented on Ferrari's underwhelming qualifying in Australia.

The disappointment of Saturday in Melbourne was undoubtedly the Scuderia Ferrari, which only managed to qualify in 7th and 8th positions. This was a significant contrast to the previous day, when Charles Leclerc topped the timesheets with a fast and well-balanced car. However, what drew the most attention was the Monegasque’s comment to Sky, in which he claimed to know the reason for the drop in performance, adding that the loss was an unavoidable choice made by the team. In this analysis, we explore what might have happened to Ferrari in Australian GP qualifying.

Wet setup in preparation for the race?
Given tomorrow’s weather conditions, the most immediate hypothesis is that the team sacrificed dry qualifying performance in favor of a setup suited for a wet race. A typical wet-weather setup includes higher aerodynamic load, softer mechanical settings, and increased ride height.

However, unfortunately for Ferrari fans, this does not seem to be the most likely explanation. Firstly, modern F1 cars have such advanced aerodynamics that, even in wet conditions, teams make only minor adjustments rather than drastically altering setups as they did in the past, to keep the car within the optimal performance window. Moreover, Charles Leclerc’s words, despite being measured, did not suggest confidence or an aggressive outlook for the race. Instead, he implied that even tomorrow would be about damage limitation.

What could be the real reason?
A possible explanation for the drop in performance could be related to the car’s ride height. One plausible theory is that Ferrari was forced to raise the car, perhaps to limit wear on the skid block under the floor. This hypothesis would align with Charles Leclerc’s statements and, if correct, would explain why he avoided going into detail publicly.

If Ferrari had been running extremely low on Friday, it could mean that, despite being very competitive, they were operating at the edge of the regulations. This would not be a favorable message to communicate externally or to the FIA. Raising the ride height would alter the car’s aerodynamic map, reducing downforce and leading to performance losses in both cornering and traction—precisely the two areas where Ferrari struggled the most compared to Friday. Additionally, an increased ride height can shift the aerodynamic center of pressure, affecting aero balance and potentially causing understeer.

However, to reassure Ferrari fans, it is important to note that this issue is likely tied to the specific characteristics of the circuit and current conditions. Therefore, it is not an indication of a problem that could impact the rest of the season. This is further confirmed by Charles Leclerc’s continued optimism about the car and the season ahead.

Source: f1ingenerale