Leclerc downplays the impact of the energy adjustment at Suzuka.
"I don’t believe it will be a game changer."
Charles Leclerc does not anticipate that the new amendment to the qualifying rules in Formula 1 will significantly impact the sport, especially given the ongoing concerns regarding the 2026 regulations. The FIA announced before practice at Suzuka that the maximum allowable energy recharge for qualifying has been decreased from 9 megajoules to 8, in an effort to curtail excessive lift-and-coast tactics. However, Leclerc thinks this alteration will only have a minimal effect.
"I don’t believe it will be a game changer," stated the Ferrari driver. "I think things will remain relatively the same. Any improvement is welcome, but further adjustments are necessary to enable us to push to the limit during qualifying."
Following the Melbourne race, Leclerc expressed disappointment that the 2026 regulations had diminished one of his notable strengths from previous regulations—his qualifying speed. "In the early race weekends, the focus was more on managing specific factors rather than going full throttle, unlike in recent years," he remarked at Suzuka.
"There’s more to consider. So I don't think this change will be a game changer." Leclerc asserts that the central issue is the inability to operate at the edge. "Any solution that allows us to operate at maximum capacity is beneficial in my view," he elaborated. "That’s what I cherish about this sport. In Q3, you experience the utmost pressure to deliver a lap that you haven't executed until that point."
"That’s not feasible right now," Leclerc continued. "As soon as you attempt something new, the car tries to adjust, ultimately causing you to lose more than gain. That is the main challenge at the moment."
While recognizing the issue's complexity, he mentions that discussions are ongoing. "The solution is quite intricate, but I'm aware that everyone is brainstorming ideas to identify the best approach," Leclerc noted. "Hopefully, we will arrive at a satisfactory solution soon."
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