via Getty
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – NOVEMBER 24: World Drivers Championship contender Nico Rosberg of Germany and Mercedes GP during a press conference with Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP during previews for the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit on November 24, 2016 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
via Getty
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – NOVEMBER 24: World Drivers Championship contender Nico Rosberg of Germany and Mercedes GP during a press conference with Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP during previews for the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit on November 24, 2016 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
The Nico Rosberg curse strikes once again! We know the former world champion for his predictions that often end up backfiring on him. Whenever Rosberg reveals his pick for the weekend, something unfortunate happens to the driver that prevents him from having a good weekend. The same thing happened at the Imola qualifying when the 2016 world champion packed Charles Leclerc as his favorite for pole.
Recently, Rosberg mentioned that, according to him, the Ferrari driver was the favorite for taking the pole position. But because of an ill-timed red flag at the end of the session, Leclerc never got his opportunity to challenge Max Verstappen’s pole time.
READ MORE: Which Teams Use Ferrari Engines in F1?
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F1 fans on Twitter also reacted to the Ferrari driver missing out on pole position. They blamed the former Mercedes world champion for putting a curse on the championship leader.
Leclerc has been Rosberg'd pic.twitter.com/5iaBWgcro2
— Reinaldo_Cárdenas (@ReinaldoCrdena5) April 22, 2022
The qualifying session after Rosberg predicts Leclerc as champion he qualifies P2 @UTDTrey you got competition mate 😭😭
— Jamez🏁 (@F1Jamez) April 22, 2022
Lady luck wasn’t in our side certainly Nico Rosberg have done it again jinxing it as always pic.twitter.com/ifIzT2i2wK
— Mayof Elkezza (@ElkezzaMayof) April 22, 2022
im hearing rosberg called leclerc championship favorite?
2nd title incoming— eri. (@MikuF1_) April 22, 2022
Rosberg said Leclerc is the favourite for the championship and now Max got the first pole after pic.twitter.com/0SeEnylKDH
— Dan (@F1_Dann) April 22, 2022
I Just realized Rosberg jinxed Leclerc again
— Carlo Bona 🔴🏁 (@CarloBona2) April 22, 2022
Nico Rosberg says that Leclerc will be wdc
*Max verstappen takes his first pole in 2022* pic.twitter.com/Qtl0Yz1Cvl
— Luli ¹ (@is_luly) April 22, 2022
NICO ROSBERG DONT U DARE JINX CHARLESSSSS
— Miks 🇵🇭 (@leclerc16CL) April 22, 2022
NICO ROSBERG MY FUCKING IDOLO THNX FOR SAYING LECLERC IS FAVOURITE FOR THE TITLE THATS ALL I NEED
— Liron (@DoubtabIe) April 22, 2022
NICO ROSBERG DID NOT JUST CALLED LECLERC AS A FAVOURITE TO WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP…😐 pic.twitter.com/3hP45tGaPq
— Madie 🏁| RACE WEEK🇮🇹 (@Madiethebadieee) April 22, 2022
Can Charles Leclerc win the Sprint Race from P2?
The Ferrari driver will start the Sprint race in P2 after a stop-start end to his qualifying. Leclerc was not happy with the entire qualifying session, as he mentioned he had the pace to challenge for pole position.
“Yes, I’m not happy. Obviously, I think we had the pace–we were very strong all session. Q1 and Q2 were all about trying to put a lap together to go to Q3 and then push a bit more, but it was a very tricky session overall, and then in… Q3 it was all about putting everything together,” said Charles.
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via Reuters
Formula One F1 – Emilia Romagna Grand Prix – Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola, Italy – April 22, 2022, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc after qualifying second place for the sprint race REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane/Pool
“This is why it is frustrating for me, because when it [counted], in Q3, I made the wrong choice, but it’s life: we will learn from it, and at the end P2 is not a disaster. Everything to play for tomorrow and after, and tomorrow and we will give everything,” said the Ferrari driver.
WATCH THIS STORY: What Are Sprint Races & Where Will They Be Held?
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It would be interesting to see how the Ferrari driver decides to approach the Sprint race at Imola. He needs to be aggressive to try to reclaim the first position from Verstappen. However, even if he fails to do so, he will get another shot at the main race tomorrow.
So it is indeed very fascinating to see how the drivers will approach the Sprint race as there is much more at stake this time around.
