The Japanese Grand Prix produced an enthralling race where strategy played a key role in the final result.
While Red Bull Racing once again dominated at the front, their rivals all opted for different approaches to the race.
Speaking on Sky Sports F1, Anthony Davidson hailed the job of one driver who capitalised on a red flag caused by a first-lap incident.
Daniel Ricciardo’s difficult start to the season continues after a collision with Alex Albon.
Both drivers were out of the race before they reached the third corner and the pause in action gave every manufacturer a difficult choice to make.
Both Mercedes drivers put on new hard tyres for the restart hoping to pull off a tricky one-stop strategy.
McLaren and Red Bull stuck with a more traditional approach to begin with – although Lando Norris might not be happy with how his race played out – but it was Ferrari who may have benefitted the most.
Anthony Davidson was particularly impressed with Charles Leclerc during the Japanese Grand Prix.
After a difficult qualifying session, he took full advantage of the medium tyres he started the race on.
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Anthony Davidson impressed with Charles Leclerc during the Japanese Grand Prix
The start of the 2024 season has been a case of what could have been for Charles Leclerc.
He missed out on a podium during the opening race of the season in Bahrain due to some brake issues but returned to the top three in Saudi Arabia.
His teammate Carlos Sainz was the man of the moment in Australia as he finally ended Max Verstappen’s winning streak, with the Monegasque driver ending up second.
Leclerc would have wanted to make up for that at Suzuka, but he had his worst qualifying session of the season.
It’s an aspect of his racing that he’s normally so highly praised for, but on this occasion, he ended up in 8 behind Lewis Hamilton.
However, Davidson was left particularly impressed by Leclerc’s first stint during the Japanese Grand Prix.
He managed his medium tyres much better than both Mercedes despite the fact they were on a harder compound.
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Charles Leclerc praised for ‘perfect’ one-stop strategy
Speaking about the Monegasque’s performance, Davidson said: “I’ll tell you what, Leclerc is doing a remarkable job in this race so far, still on that medium tyre.”
Later in the race with the two Ferraris battling for the last podium position, Davidson added: “So now we get to see what was the better strategy, I don’t think Leclerc could have done any more today on that one-stop strategy.”
David Croft replied: “Charles Leclerc started seventh on the restart of this race because he made up a place on the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton, Carlos Sainz started fourth in the race. Even if he finishes ahead of Charles Leclerc, which is the better strategy?”
Davidson concluded: “I think now we’re seeing the strategies unfold, I think Leclerc’s driven the perfect one-stop strategy today.
“He couldn’t have done any more and still his teammate’s coming at him at a great rate of knots and is going to make it work.”
Charles Leclerc continues to impress but has room to improve
While Davidson and Croft believe Leclerc executed his race at the Japanese Grand Prix in the best way he could, he may be feeling he could have achieved more.
His performance on Saturday in qualifying wasn’t good enough and left him having to make up places he shouldn’t have necessarily needed to make up.
He admitted going into this weekend that he didn’t ‘feel confident’ in the car and Ferrari will hope that changes quickly.
Leclerc is one of the few drivers who knows exactly where he stands heading into 2025.
His teammate is driving like someone well aware that he needs to earn a contract for next year.
But the Monegasque driver needs to step it up and beat his teammate on a race weekend to show why he was the man Ferrari retained.
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