Charles Leclerc took his first podium since Belgium ultimately week’s United States Grand Prix, however has moved to restrict expectations of additional successes this season.
Leclerc’s top-three end in Austin was his and Ferrari’s sixth of the season, with 5 of this quantity coming for third-place finishes, and the opposite for a second place in Monaco.
“I’m not stunned by the very fact we’re lacking a bit extra efficiency going all through the tip of the 12 months, particularly contemplating that most likely Mercedes and Red Bull are two of the groups that pushed their improvement a bit later than different groups,” mentioned Leclerc.
“If we take a look at the hole in comparison with the McLaren, it remained sort of the identical. For us, we’re extra targeted about subsequent 12 months, which I hope will assist us.
“But it surely was a really optimistic weekend. Whether or not to any extent further we are able to persistently struggle for a podium, I feel it’s a lengthy shot, however I’ll attempt to make this occur once more this weekend.”
Having stopped improvement at an early stage, Ferrari have sought to make positive factors by way of improved procedures and set-up, with Leclerc including of the Austin podium: “It has been a very long time, and it’s good for everyone within the staff to lastly see just a little little bit of enchancment.”
Though nonetheless looking for his first podium in Ferrari colors, Lewis Hamilton equalled his finest consequence for the season with a fourth-place end on the Circuit of The Americas, a consequence he had final achieved at Silverstone.
Following the race, Hamilton mentioned, “I’m finally feeling like I’m on top of the car,” with loads of positives taken from the weekend.
Arriving in Mexico, the seven-time World Champion was nonetheless driving excessive, saying: “Coming from a optimistic weekend… I’m assured that this weekend, we are able to attempt to do the identical once more. I feel we’re on the precise path.”
He added: “I really feel like we’re moving into the precise route, and I feel – Rome wasn’t in-built a day, so it takes time to construct. For me, coming into the staff, I’ve wished to be respectful of the best way that they’ve finished issues previously, and simply to essentially observe and see the place our strengths and the place our weaknesses are, and to focus on the place our weaknesses are and areas to work on.
“However I do really feel that they’ve been responding. I feel you’re beginning to see a few of the affect of the work that we’re doing within the background.”
