In the high-stakes world of Formula 1, every tenth of a second counts, and for Charles Leclerc, the recent upgrades to Ferrari’s car didn’t make the cut. Despite putting together what he considered an almost flawless lap during qualifying at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, he finished in fourth position, unable to bridge the gap to the frontrunners.
Leclerc’s performance in Jeddah highlighted the ongoing struggles at Ferrari. He was left trailing behind, with a 0.376-second deficit to Max Verstappen, who clinched the pole position. Despite starting alongside Mercedes’ George Russell on the second row, Leclerc’s car lacked the competitiveness needed to challenge for the top spots. “I’m really not happy,” Leclerc admitted, expressing his disappointment to the media. “Finishing P4 in quali where the lap was really good, I think I put everything out there, but for now, performance of the car is just not there.”
Leclerc pinpointed the car’s balance issues as a major hurdle. He mentioned experiencing either massive understeer or oversteer, which ultimately deprived him of the grip necessary to match the leaders’ pace. Despite feeling good in the car and finding a setup that suited his driving style, Leclerc acknowledged that the car’s potential was not meeting his expectations. “I think it is the gap that we’d expect, that we’ve seen since the beginning of the season,” he noted.
The Ferrari team had introduced a new floor design during the previous race in Bahrain, hoping it would be beneficial at Jeddah. However, the lack of substantial improvement was concerning. The upgrades were anticipated to reduce the gap with the leading teams, but the difference remained “pretty similar to before,” according to Leclerc. Lewis Hamilton also faced challenges, finishing seventh, indicating broader issues.
As Ferrari continues to grapple with their performance, it’s clear that more work is needed to translate upgrades into on-track success. Leclerc’s reflections paint a picture of a team striving to catch up but falling short of the targets. Meanwhile, the competition at the top remains fierce, with Verstappen and others setting high standards.
Charles Leclerc’s candid remarks underscore a defining moment for Ferrari as they strive to regain their competitive edge. The lack of progress despite recent upgrades hints at deeper challenges within the team. As the season progresses, Ferrari will need to address these issues to close the gap with the frontrunners and enable their drivers to challenge for top positions consistently.
