‘Trying not to make a mistake ended up being a mistake’ - Weug rues opening lap for costing her victory in Race 2

Maya Weug learnt the hard way that being cautious can sometimes be as damaging as risking it all after the Ferrari driver saw her opportunity to convert pole to a victory slip out of her hands in Shanghai.

Due to an oil spill from Turn 16 to the pit exit from the previous session, Weug went from facing a standing start to two extra formation laps and a rolling start in Race 2.

Trying to navigate the slippery track, she opted to be more tentative on the start. Whilst it was a clean getaway, second-placed Doriane Pin was much more confident down the main straight, swooping around the outside of the opening corners.

Even a Safety Car restart on Lap 5 couldn’t bring Weug back into the fight for the lead, as she steadily dropped to two seconds back by the chequered flag. Lamenting her missed chance of a win, Weug questioned why her pace from Qualifying hadn’t translated into the races.

“I just didn’t have the start of the race that I should have had,” she admitted. “It was so dirty in Turn 16 and, when you're leading, I just didn't want to make any mistake. Trying not to make a mistake ended up being a mistake because then I got passed in Turn 1.

“I tried to stay inside, but it was already too late. After that, we just didn’t have the pace. We need to check why because in Quali we were so much faster. In the races, both yesterday and today, we just didn’t really have the pace we should have had in my opinion.

“So, we need to check on the data and see where we have to improve for Jeddah. Sorry to the team because we should have won today.”

READ MORE: STANDOUT STARS: Who shone brightest in an exhilarating Round 1 in Shanghai?

Having a five-point deficit to Pin after the opening round doesn’t seem like much but Weug recognises how rapidly those lost points can multiply and widen the gap across the seven-round season.

“Five points sounds like nothing, but it feels like a lot,” she remarked. “Coming into this weekend and after Quali, we should have been leading easily.

"I just didn’t do that, so I’m quite disappointed at the moment, but we will look into everything and make sure that in Jeddah it doesn’t happen and move on from there.”

Fortunately for Weug, she won’t have to wait long for a shot a redemption as next month welcomes the first of four returning venues with the Jeddah Corniche Circuit hosting Round 2.

Before that, the Saudi Arabian track hosts a three-day test to aid Weug’s preparations and she’s determined to use it to deliver another pole and convert it into the win next time out.

READ MORE: Larsen hails 'over our expectations' performance after P4 finish in Shanghai Race 2

Quizzed on whether the returning drivers will have an advantage over the rest of the field, she said: “Definitely it will, but we have three days of testing, so everyone will get up to speed quite quickly. So I think the three days of testing will help a lot for everyone that hasn’t been there yet.”

Weug added: “(The win) that’s what I should have done today, but I didn’t do that. So, I’ll have to do that in Jeddah again and we’ll try to make that happen.”