After the good start to the season, Ferrari is looking for further confirmations in Shanghai. At the same time, Charles Leclerc is looking for the victory that is missing from the 2022 Austrian Grand Prix. Carlos' good start to the season Sainz, who will leave Ferrari at the end of the year for a destination that is still uncertain, has put Leclerc under pressure. The Monegasque did not hide the difficulties of these first races, especially in qualifying, where he usually excels. On the eve of the race weekend in China, Charles Leclerc explained the problems he had and the objective in a weekend also marked by the unknowns of the Sprint Race.
Leclerc and Sainz, two diametrically opposed stories
Already from the first year of their cohabitation it seemed clear the high level that this couple would reach. Both are extremely competitive drivers. Each of them has strengths that make them overall a complete couple. In the three years of living together there has never been a clear hierarchy and this has led both of them to always give 100%, even taking risks at times.
2024, the season of separation began with the best Sainz of the three seasons played in Ferrari. A sign of the great growth made in recent years where the first career victories came for the Spaniard. In the comparison with Sainz in this first phase of the season, Leclerc paid the price above all for his qualifying position. A sign that he still isn't exactly at ease. On the other hand, there is a Sainz who is particularly in form, and who has managed to make the most of every opportunity that has arrived in this first phase of the season. Leclerc himself recognized the great work done by Carlos, who also had to undergo surgery for appendicitis over the weekend in Jeddah.
“Did Sainz adapt better to the SF-24? I don't think so, I rather think he's just doing a better job – said Charles Leclerc in China, without thinking too much. In Bahrain it's difficult to make a comparison, because I had some problems and I think that apart from that it was a very good weekend. However, in the last two races he has been stronger. So now it's up to me to work, especially in the qualifying phase, which is usually a strong point."
“I struggled to put together the flying lap. Qualifying the line is very thin, between getting the exit lap right or completely wrong and to put the tires in the right window and for now I've struggled more than Carlos. He is driving at a very high level and I think this is good for the team. It's great for me too. I worked a lot on this aspect and normally when I work on an aspect I am quite confident that I will improve quite quickly. So I'm not worried, but obviously now I have to prove it on the track starting from tomorrow's qualifying."
Expectations on the eve of the Sprint weekend in China
The Sprint format returns to China, for a debut that worries quite a bit teams and drivers, who have no recent references on this track. These unknowns, however, could bring Red Bull and Ferrari closer together, which is why Leclerc says he is quite optimistic about it.
“On paper I think it's a track where we could be a little stronger than Suzuka, but we will approach it the same way. I still think Red Bull will prevail this weekend and we just have to focus on ourselves. It will be very important, especially in a Sprint weekend – we have two qualifying sessions this weekend – to extract the maximum from the car in both. In the race I think we are quite strong this year. Obviously it's been a long time since we've driven here. We will have to see how our car behaves and what the main limitations are in the race, but on paper I think we should be closer to them [Red Bull].
Source statements: F1
