Ferrari's Charles Leclerc could not help but be disappointed by his result during the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday, September 17.
The Monegasque started the race on third, with the Ferrari SF-23 car having a pace strong enough to claim a win at the Marina Bay Street Circuit during a rare off-night from Red Bull and reigning champion Max Verstappen.
However, a pitstop blunder during the race's first half caused Leclerc to fall back to sixth place, effectively ending his chances of winning.
The five-time race winner could not hide his frustration, wishing he had done a better overall result.
Leclerc changed his strategy to protect teammate Carlos Sainz Jr.'s lead, who started the race on pole and was in front the whole evening.
"I knew that this race was going to be difficult for me in the first place. It was all about trying to protect Carlos in order for me to stop before him, so to leave a gap," the 25-year-old said.
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Leclerc still happy over Sainz's victory
Despite his dismay at his result, Leclerc was happy that his teammate was the first non-Red Bull driver to claim a victory in the 2023 F1 season.
"It means a lot, especially with all the hard work that has been done on a high downforce track," Leclerc said, referring to the team's efforts in providing a competitive car in Singapore.
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