Despite a promising grid position going into Sunday’s race at Silverstone, Monaco’s Charles Leclerc couldn’t convert it into a podium place and slid down the rankings to P9. Younger brother Arthur took a matching position in F2. 

“We lacked pace today and it was a tough race,” said 25-year-old Charles Leclerc after falling from P4 to P9 during the course of the 52-lap race at Silverstone. “We stopped early and lost some positions as I struggled to get a good rhythm on the Hards. Then we stopped again, for a new set of Mediums, and I made up a couple of positions at the restart, but then got stuck in a DRS train behind Alex [Albon]. We have some things to review, but our main focus will be to work on our race trim.”

“So tight between P2 and P10 that the smallest mishap makes a big difference” 

Scuderia Ferrari Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur echoed Leclerc’s frustrations, saying, “Our plan was to do a one-stop race, running Medium then Hard. We pitted both drivers before the Safety Car, which definitely put us in a bad situation. However, we cannot just blame this episode to explain our finishing positions… We could have done a much better job here in Silverstone with the package that we have now. Next race will be Hungary, on a very different kind of track with hotter temperatures and being able to adapt the car package to the various tracks coming up will be a crucial element. We are continuing to develop the car and will have new parts soon, but it’s so tight between P2 and P10 that the smallest mishap makes a big difference.”  

Leclerc’s team mate, Carlos Sainz, had a similar experience, and was didn’t come close to replicate his stunning 2022 win on the British circuit. Despite starting in P5, he too tumbled down five places to P10. Sainz is now fifth in the Driver Standings, while Leclerc is in seventh.  

Ultimately, it was be the unassailable Max Verstappen who would take first place, but not without challenge from the young Lando Norris, who screeched past the Dutch driver at the very beginning of the race. The roles quickly reversed again, though, with Verstappen solidifying an unbelievable running streak.

The same story in F2 for Arthur Leclerc 

Meanwhile, in the F2 race, the younger Leclerc brother, Arthur, saw his Silverstone experience end in a disappointing P9. The 22-year-old who have been hoping for better after recording one of the fastest lap times of the day.  

He now finds himself in 14th in the Driver Standings, after barely picking up a point since Melbourne in early April. There are five more races on the F2 calendar this year. 

The next chance for Monaco’s two aspiring drivers will be in Budapest, Hungary, from 21st to 23rd July.  

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Featured photo credit: Scuderia Ferrari Media Centre