Charles Leclerc shouldn’t be writing off his drivers’ championship hopes this early into the season, however says Ferrari wants to search out solutions to its qualifying issues shortly to maintain him in competition.
Ferrari entered this yr anticipating to problem for each titles after falling simply 14 factors wanting profitable the constructors’ championship final season, however has struggled up to now 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 displaying sturdy efficiency, however says qualifying fourth was the most expensive concern that the workforce must resolve.
“I feel we’re shut on race tempo,” Leclerc stated. “I feel free air dictates who’s going to win the race somewhat bit. That’s at all times been the case. Perhaps this yr somewhat bit greater than different years. And clearly when that’s the case, qualifying is extra essential. However sadly, for 2 years, we’re simply struggling in qualifying to place the whole lot collectively.
“This weekend the issue is it’s not at all times the identical concern. This time it was 4 tenths within the first three corners. For the remainder of the lap, we had been quick. And within the race, really, the primary sector was most likely the very best sector we had. So we’ve acquired to take a look at that.
“Clearly, there are solutions in what we’re doing, and we’re doing one thing flawed, clearly. We’ve acquired to search out it. We can’t 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 need to be shedding 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 a lot of his rivals, permitting him to climb into the highest three. Eager to reward the best way 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 the whole lot we may have this weekend – there wasn’t something extra within the automotive,” Leclerc stated. “I feel we have to give attention to qualifying as a result of it’s been a really very long time I haven’t been as proud of the automotive steadiness. I really feel very relaxed with the automotive in a manner that I do know I can extract the utmost out of the automotive most of the time, however sadly, the automotive potential is simply not ok to battle for higher in qualifying.
“Within the race, the nice automotive steadiness had outcomes. We had been all stunned by our tempo in free air on the primary stint. That was actually good. All the things else was completely executed. Technique was nice. Pit stops have been nice the entire season and likewise the entire of final yr as effectively. There wasn’t far more we may have carried out.”
