Charles Leclerc had a rollercoaster ride at the Las Vegas GP that left Ferrari fans on the edge of their seats. However, despite a stellar performance, the Monegasque driver’s near miss at the top spot of the podium drew mixed emotions from the Ferrari camp as shared by a Ferrari ambassador on an episode of the F1 Nation podcast.

Starting on pole, the 26-year-old Ferrari driver lost the lead to Max Verstappen early on but surged back after the Red Bull driver’s penalty. However, the turning point came with the second Safety Car, triggered by debris from the Verstappen-Russell collision. The reshuffled order at the restart favored the Red Bulls, who capitalized on fresh tires. The Dutchman ultimately snatched his 18th win of the season. However, Charles Leclerc‘s last-lap move on Checo Perez proved to be the highlight of the race.

Marc Gene talks about the disappointment of Ferrari missing out on the second win of the year

In a recent episode of the F1 Nation podcast, Ferrari ambassador Marc Gene voiced the collective frustration within the team. Speaking about the disappointing finish, Gene acknowledged the impeccable performance, lamenting the impact of the Safety Car and setbacks like Carlos Sainz‘s penalty.

“We feel so upset, you know, we did everything right. Carlos [Sainz]’s problem also played its part in not helping. And the safety car for sure was just horrible for us,” Gene expressed.

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Natalie Pinkham probed further, noting the team’s impressive performance despite the unfortunate outcome. “The performance was really there, wasn’t it?” she asked. Marc Gene affirmed, “Yeah, that’s why we feel… this track, in particular, was good for us. So, I don’t think such a performance will repeat itself. But having said that, we do feel that we are getting the best out of the car. Especially this last part of the season. And so the team is working well, yeah.”

While the disappointment lingers, Gene’s optimism about Ferrari’s improving form provides a silver lining. The team’s ability to extract peak performance from their car, particularly in the latter part of the season, indicates a positive trajectory for the next season.

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Although the young Monegasque driver failed to win the race, he secured second place on the podium in style with a masterstroke move on the final lap of the race.

A Move for the Ages: Charles Leclerc sheds light on his last lap magic

The Las Vegas GP’s climax centered around Charles Leclerc’s audacious last-lap maneuver against Red Bull’s Sergio Perez. The Ferrari driver, although not content with securing second place, revealed the precise moment he decided to make his move.

“Once I went for it, I was pretty confident it would work out. It was basically the only opportunity I had,” Leclerc explained according to gpblog.com. “It’s the only place where you can go for an overtake. And I also had in mind that Checo had done a small mistake four or five laps before. So I knew he was being cautious a little bit on braking.”

His strategic planning began on the penultimate lap as he started recharging the car’s batteries, preparing for the final showdown. The Monegasque driver’s confidence in seizing the opportunity paid off as he executed a breathtaking move, diving down the inside of Sergio Perez and clinching second place.

“In the second to last lap, I started to recharge the batteries in order to get ready for that last lap, and it worked out,” Leclerc added. “So it was obviously very, very tight, but I was really happy, and I really enjoyed the fight.”

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Do you think Leclerc’s last-lap move was the best overtake of the season so far? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.