Leclerc’s SF23 was one of many 4 automobiles checked for plank put on after the end and was discovered to be in breach of the rules, alongside the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton, that means the Monegasque driver lost his sixth place.
Ferrari was caught out by Austin’s bumpy Circuit of the Americas, with the added problem of the dash format stopping groups from making modifications to the ground after Friday’s single free observe session.
However Leclerc defined that Ferrari noticed no put on on Friday evening after FP1 and qualifying, so its disqualification got here out of the blue.
“Actually, it was a whole shock,” Leclerc mentioned. “As a result of on Friday once we might change the automotive, there was zero put on, so it is not like we had been touching wherever.
“Then you definately get to the race and clearly, issues have not modified, however we had been unlawful.
“Guidelines are guidelines, they usually should be revered, so it is not an excuse to say that on Friday we had been high quality. We have to look into it to attempt to higher anticipate what’s going to be the wear and tear.”
Leclerc revealed Ferrari was even assured of its put on after Saturday’s dash after seeing how little it was bottoming out on the bumpy Austin asphalt.
Photograph by: Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-23
“Additionally on the Saturday evening, we might see kind of the place we’re touching and we thought there was nonetheless loads of margin,” he added.
“After which we completed the Sunday and it was a giant shock, so we’re nonetheless within the analysing a part of the place precisely did we put on the plank greater than what we anticipated.
Leclerc’s race was already compromised after dropping from pole to sixth as a result of a wrong strategy call.
He felt the misplaced end result was tougher to simply accept as a result of Austin had truly supplied extra proof that Ferrari’s improvement path was on target.
“It is a small step in the proper route, however I believe we’ll have to attend till subsequent 12 months for the most important steps. We’re talking about larger issues,” he defined.
“I undoubtedly really feel extra comfy with the automotive. However that is much more troublesome to simply accept that every time I’ve an excellent weekend within the USA then I go away the weekend with none factors.
“The nice factor is that I believe we have now the proof that I really feel extra snug in the previous few races and pushing in that route ought to solely assist me to really feel extra snug.”