Charles Leclerc Criticizes New F1 Qualifying Rules After Costly Ferrari Mistake

Charles Leclerc voiced strong frustration after a costly error during qualifying at Suzuka. The Ferrari driver blamed this season’s new F1 qualifying rules for amplifying the mistake’s effect.

What happened in Suzuka qualifying

Leclerc finished fourth in Q3 at the Japanese Grand Prix. He trailed pole-sitter Kimi Antonelli by more than six tenths of a second.

He led the opening sector in Q3 but slid on the Spoon corner exit. That moment preceded a sharp loss of speed on the subsequent straight.

Energy deployment and the numerical impact

Comparison of Leclerc’s best Q2 and Q3 laps shows a 0.148-second deficit on the straight. Teams say the drop resulted from interrupted battery deployment after the slight lift.

Regulations now require close to half of peak power to come from the battery. That rule makes cars vulnerable if electrical energy is depleted or deployment is disturbed.

Driver reactions and broader concerns

Leclerc said the system punishes even small driving errors more than before. He argued qualifying now rewards steady laps over bold attempts.

Other competitors expressed disappointment with qualifying at Suzuka. Max Verstappen exited in Q2 and reported strong frustration. Lando Norris and Fernando Alonso also called the session underwhelming.

Team and driver outlook

Oscar Piastri claimed third and will start near Leclerc on race day. Ferrari said it will study telemetry to understand the energy loss.

Leclerc expects work between teams and the FIA to find technical fixes. He hopes solutions will restore rewarding, risk-taking qualifying laps.

Filmogaz.com reported this story on March 28, 2026. The episode underscores why Charles Leclerc criticized the new F1 qualifying rules after a costly Ferrari error at Suzuka.