Charles Leclerc has commented on his disappointing performance in the 1 F2024 Chinese GP race, where he finished 4th. Find out his statements and the reasons behind his dissatisfaction.
After a still unsatisfactory qualifying for the Monegasque driver, the Chinese GP race did not have a promising start. An overtaking by Hulkenberg and Russell in the first meters relegated both Ferraris to seventh and eighth position, thus compromising an essential advantage to aspire to the podium.
The race, before this season with Ferrari off the podium, was marked by the Safety Cars coming out which penalized both Ferrars. But above all from the sub-optimal performance of the hard tyres, during the race in China, as Charles Leclerc declared to Sky:
“We had difficulties; today this was the best possible result. The McLaren was faster. With the medium tires we didn't perform badly, but with the hard ones there was an incredible difference, 0.5 seconds slower.
We need to analyze why the speed of the car in other races did not manifest itself here. It was a bad surprise, especially with the hard tyres; we need to understand exactly what happened."
Lerclerc: “I'm confident”
If on the one hand Leclerc expected the now more than usual results from Red Bull, however, he was surprised by the performance of the McLarens. Especially Lando Norris's. Considering that Oscar Piastri had declared problems at the bottom.
McLaren demonstrated a significantly superior pace and unexpected for Ferrari in this Chinese Grand Prix. We will have to wait for Miami, where the first updates are expected. To then arrive at Imola where the complete package of improvements on the SF-24 will arrive.
“The developments in Imola will be crucial for the rest of the year. We'll see where they take us, but I'm confident."
Leclerc declared to Mara Sangiorgio for Sky Sport F1.
Leclerc shows a different attitude compared to last year's statements: although he is not yet satisfied, he appears confident and positive. All that remains is to wait for Imola and the complete package of updates, which are aimed at to further reduce the gap with the Milton Keynes team, which has already introduced some improvements.
