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Leclerc urges Ferrari to analyse tyre struggles after Verstappen win

Charles Leclerc was on course to win the Sprint at Imola before tyre degradation allowed Max Verstappen to catch and pass him with two laps to go.

Charles Leclerc has urged his Ferrari team to ensure that they are ready for Sunday's Emilia Romagna Grand Prix after tyre problems saw him passed and beaten by Max Verstappen during the Sprint. Leclerc took the lead at the start, overtaking Verstappen into Turn 1, and remained at the front until he began to suffer with tyre degradation. That allowed the Red Bull of Verstappen, who was able to look after his tyres throughout the Sprint, to catch and pass him with two laps to go. "I had a little bit too much degradation. That was strange, [and] not where we expected to have it," Leclerc said, speaking to his team via the radio on his in-lap. As a result, Verstappen will start Sunday's Emilia Romagna GP at the front, with Leclerc alongside him.

Leclerc: Our pace was good until then

Leclerc admitted that he struggled to extend the life of his Soft tyres as he saw a commanding lead at the front evaporate during the final laps. The reason behind Ferrari's tyre struggles will be investigated as they look to learn their lessons ahead of Sunday's 63-lap race. "We struggled with the tyres at the end, so we need to analyse that for tomorrow," said Leclerc. "At the end, the main race is tomorrow and we need to make sure that we are ready. "The pace was good until then, then we started to have some graining on the front left and lost it towards the end, but we'll work and come back stronger tomorrow."

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RESULTS 2024 F1 Chinese Grand Prix - Qualifying