Binotto: Qualifying went better than expected
Charles Leclerc's Singapore pole was better than Ferrari had hoped for.
Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto said that Charles Leclerc’s pole at the Singapore Grand Prix was “even better than we hoped” for.
The 21-year-old set a blistering 1:36.2 to better the already high benchmark set by team-mate Sebastian Vettel and claim pole at the Marina Bay Circuit, this third-straight pole position.
Leclerc credited his achievement to the new parts which Ferrari brought with them to Singapore as they looked to close in on Mercedes, but Binotto admitted that the team were shocked to outpace them with Lewis Hamilton forced to settle for P2.
“Obviously, that’s even better than we hoped today, but we knew that we brought here a new aero package in the right direction, but even more important for us is that we know we’re developing the car in the right direction, because I think that will also be useful for next year,” Binotto told Sky Sports.
“After the first wins in Spa and Monza, certainly there is a great boost within the team. Everybody was coming here trying or hoping somehow to do something special, and I think today at least, we did it.
“The race is tomorrow, we should not forget that, but starting at the front in Singapore is always important.”
Vettel will start Sunday’s race from P3, sharing the second row with Max Verstappen.
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