Charles Leclerc isn’t writing off his drivers’ championship hopes this early into the season, however says Ferrari wants to search out solutions to its qualifying issues rapidly to maintain him in competition.
Ferrari entered this yr anticipating to problem for each titles after falling simply 14 factors in need of profitable the constructors’ championship final season, however has struggled to date and Leclerc’s third place within the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was its first podium of 2025. Leclerc completed simply eight factors behind race winner Oscar Piastri after exhibiting robust efficiency, however says qualifying fourth was the costliest situation that the crew must resolve.
“I believe we’re shut on race tempo,” Leclerc mentioned. “I believe free air dictates who’s going to win the race a bit bit. That’s at all times been the case. Perhaps this yr a bit bit greater than different years. And clearly when that’s the case, qualifying is extra vital. However sadly, for 2 years, we’re simply struggling in qualifying to place all the things collectively.
“This weekend the issue is it’s not at all times the identical situation. This time it was 4 tenths within the first three corners. For the remainder of the lap, we have been quick. And within the race, truly, the primary sector was in all probability the very best sector we had. So we’ve bought to have a look at that.
“Clearly, there are solutions in what we’re doing, and we’re doing one thing mistaken, clearly. We’ve bought to search out it. We can not lose too many races earlier than discovering it as a result of we’re already 50 factors down within the drivers’ championship. We’re not taking a look at it an excessive amount of, however 50 factors is an enormous quantity. I don’t wish to be dropping extra factors than that within the subsequent few races.”
Leclerc ran lengthy on medium tires and led for a spell earlier than making a later pit cease for hards than lots of his rivals, permitting him to climb into the highest three. Eager to reward the way in which Ferrari executed on each Saturday and Sunday, he believes it is just automotive efficiency that’s missing.
“I really feel like we’ve maximized completely all the things we might have this weekend – there wasn’t something extra within the automotive,” Leclerc mentioned. “I believe we have to concentrate on qualifying as a result of it’s been a really very long time I haven’t been as pleased with the automotive steadiness. I really feel very comfy with the automotive in a approach that I do know I can extract the utmost out of the automotive as a rule, however sadly, the automotive potential is simply not ok to struggle for higher in qualifying.
“Within the race, the great automotive steadiness had outcomes. We have been all shocked by our tempo in free air on the primary stint. That was actually good. Every thing else was completely executed. Technique was nice. Pit stops have been nice the entire season and likewise the entire of final yr as properly. There wasn’t rather more we might have completed.”
