Ferrari Remains Calm Amid Difficult Start to Season, Says Leclerc
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc has insisted there is no cause for panic after a challenging beginning to the Formula 1 season, where the Scuderia has garnered a mere 17 championship points in the opening two races. Both Leclerc and teammate Lewis Hamilton faced early setbacks, finishing eighth and tenth in Australia and subsequently being disqualified from fifth and sixth positions in China due to technical infringements.
Difficult Start
Speaking ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, Leclerc acknowledged the struggles the team has faced so far. “The first two races were difficult,” he stated. “The pace was not exactly where we were expected it to be, and to lose even more points than we already did [the disqualifications] hurt the team a lot, but I’m confident that we’ve learned from it.”
Performance Concerns
The Monegasque driver highlighted ongoing concerns regarding the performance of the Ferrari car, specifically pointing out that the team’s competitiveness compared to rivals, especially Mclaren, was lacking. “The performance is just not good enough,” Leclerc remarked. “It’s not about how hard it is to extract the maximum performance out of the car; it’s just that there’s not enough performance in the car for now.”
A Path Forward
Despite the early-season woes, Leclerc remains optimistic about Ferrari’s potential to improve. “Little step by little step, I’m hoping that we can close that gap, starting from this weekend,” he noted. The team has a long way to go, but with the season still young, Leclerc believes there is ample opportunity for recovery. “We are aware that the season is still very young and with small steps we can still have an amazing season.”
Eyeing Qualifying Improvements
Looking ahead, the 27-year-old emphasized the importance of enhancing their qualifying speed to secure better grid positions for races. He expressed hope that improved pace would enable him and Hamilton to compete more effectively against the frontrunners. Despite an ultimately disappointing outcome in Shanghai, Leclerc showcased promising pace during the race, even while nursing damage to his front wing after an incident with Hamilton. “But it’s still faster to have a full front wing,” he concluded, hinting at the need for strategic improvements moving forward.
As Ferrari gears up for the challenges of the Japanese Grand Prix, all eyes will be on whether they can translate their potential into performance on the track.