Charles Leclerc shares 'surprise' at unexpected McLaren pace

Charles Leclerc has revealed he was "very surprised" by how much Oscar Piastri was able to pull away during the opening lap of the Japanese Grand Prix.

The Ferrari driver, like the Australian, got the better of the front-row starting Mercedes pair of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli to lead the field into the first corner at Suzuka.

However, unlike in previous races, he was unable to stay with a Mercedes-powered car ahead of him, with Piastri displaying immediately strong pace.

Leclerc soon found himself displaced by Russell, who had not lost as much ground as his team-mate off the line, but would not be afforded another opportunity to do battle with the MCL40.

After the Oliver Bearman-induced safety car, the Moneqasque driver fought his way back past Lewis Hamilton — who had taken advantage of a cheap pit stop — and the second W17 to claim third, his second podium finish of the season.

Having started fourth, post-race Leclerc was asked for his account of the opening stage of the 53-lap race, having dispatched of both Mercedes.

"I mean, I was happy," the eight-time grand prix winner told media, including RacingNews365. "Then I was obviously focusing on Oscar, but Oscar was very strong, actually, especially in the first lap.

With Ferrari having been comfortably the second-quickest team over the first two rounds of the campaign, Leclerc did not expect his SF-26 to struggle to keep up with the McLaren ahead.

"In the first lap, I was very surprised at how much he pulled away, and yes, after that, I was just trying to be as close as possible to him, but he had a bit more pace, and I thought also that free air was making a big difference," he said.

"But I was just trying to wait for later on in the race, but it didn't happen."