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Leclerc frustrated 'I got it wrong when it counted'

Photo: © LAT Images

Leclerc frustrated 'I got it wrong when it counted'

Leclerc will start Saturday's sprint second to Verstappen

F1 championship leader Charles Leclerc has expressed frustration at getting it wrong "when it counts" after missing out on pole position for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix sprint.

Leclerc had appeared to be the man to beat after comfortably topping FP1 at Imola and leading the way in the early stages of qualifying.

But an error on his first timed lap of Q3 eventually cost the Ferrari driver top spot on the grid after Kevin Magnussen, Valtteri Bottas and Lando Norris caused three of the five red flags overall throughout qualifying to be shown in the final session.

With rain also an issue, Leclerc said: "It was very tricky, especially on the slicks there were quite a lot of wet patches so it was all about getting the laps in for Q3 to put everything together.

"But again, this is why it was more frustrating for me because when it counts in Q3, I made the wrong choice.

"But it is life. We will learn from it and P2 is not a disaster. There is everything to play for tomorrow and after tomorrow and we will do everything."

After crossing the line to confirm his second-place starting position for the Saturday sprint, Leclerc added via team radio: "What a shame. I definitely had the pace."

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