Charles Leclerc says the improve that Ferrari dropped at Bahrain ought to present a extra noticeable step ahead at this weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, because it seems to be to shut the hole to McLaren.
Ferrari introduced a brand new ground to the final race in Bahrain with the intention to get worth out of it at two of the three races within the present tripleheader. Whereas Leclerc admitted it was unlikely to have a significant affect on final weekend’s observe format, he believes the high-speed road circuit of Jeddah ought to enable the crew to grasp if it has made the deliberate progress with the newest improvement.
“For the format of the observe, I feel we needs to be doing a little bit of a step ahead — a bit extra of a step ahead than we did in Bahrain, which is constructive,” Leclerc mentioned. “We clearly nonetheless have to verify that, however I feel the numbers that we had been anticipating from this improve in Bahrain had been those that we noticed, and contemplating that’s the case, I feel we’ll profit a little bit bit extra from a observe like this.
“General grip has been a giant enchancment. And in particular corners — nook phases, particularly, which we must always achieve from a bit extra on a observe like this.”
Leclerc believes Ferrari is at present on a par with Mercedes and considers Crimson Bull more durable to investigate, however he sees the hole to McLaren as standing between 0.2-0.3s. Though Ferrari is unlikely to shut that with one improve, he believes race victories can quickly be on the playing cards after feeling a greater outcome bought away in Bahrain.
“I actually suppose that the rostrum was potential in Bahrain with out the protection automobile, however that’s how racing goes generally,” he mentioned. “I feel we’re doing steps in the suitable course, whether or not the rostrum goes to be this weekend or afterward, I don’t know, however I feel we’ve bought our possibilities.
“We’ve been taking barely completely different instructions in the previous few races, which I notably like, and if we maintain discovering positive aspects by entering into that course, I hope we will rating our first podium, however my hope is a little more than that. I imply, a podium just isn’t one thing that I notably take pleasure in concentrating on — a win could be superb.
“I’m at all times totally motivated to extract the utmost out of my automobile, irrespective of the place that brings me. In fact you might be at all times dissatisfied if you do every little thing excellent and the most effective outcome achievable is P4, however you then get again into the automobile the following race and — not less than for me — I nonetheless have the total motivation to attempt to do one thing particular and to perhaps win a race with a automobile that’s much less good than the folks round me.
“In order that’s the place I discover my motivation — it’s to attempt to outperform at any time when I can. So motivation received’t be an issue.”
