Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc is not happy with his fourth place on the grid in Saudi Arabia – what the Italians are currently lacking and what is still possible in the race
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc will start the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix from fourth on the grid. It’s a result that the Monegasque driver is finding hard to come to terms with. “I’m not happy, really not,” Leclerc said bluntly after qualifying.
“I mean, I finished fourth in qualifying, where my lap was actually really good,” said the 27-year-old, making it clear why disappointment prevails: “I gave it everything, but at the moment the car just lacks performance.”
“Either I have severe understeer or severe oversteer, but in the end I just don’t have the grip to do what the drivers in front of me are doing,” Leclerc said angrily. In the end, he was just four hundredths of a second off Max Verstappen’s pole time.
Leclerc: ‘Got the maximum out of the car’
However, the Ferrari driver is not surprised by this gap. “I think it’s the gap we’ve seen since the start of the season,” explains Leclerc. Nevertheless, he is “a little disappointed because we had some upgrades that should have helped here, but the gap seems to have remained pretty much the same compared to before.”
According to Leclerc, the updates did have an effect, but because the competition made similar progress, the gap ultimately remained unchanged. Nevertheless, the Monegasque driver was able to take some positives from qualifying at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
“At the moment, I feel good in the car. I think I’ve found the sweet spot that suits my driving style,” said Leclerc, who is at least satisfied in this respect. ‘In the last three qualifying sessions, I think I got the maximum out of the car.’
Ferrari ‘not satisfied overall’
“But the car’s potential is simply not yet at the level I would like it to be,” Leclerc said openly. Ferrari team boss Frederic Vasseur also made no secret of this: “Given the gap to pole position, we cannot be satisfied overall.”
“We have to make the most of what we currently have available and will do everything we can to score a strong points haul,” said the Frenchman, who hopes that Ferrari will be able to better showcase its strengths in the race. “We are ready to take every opportunity that comes our way on Sunday.”
“Overtaking is possible on this track,” said Vasseur, looking ahead to the race with optimism. He believes that, ideally, the team could move up a few positions on Sunday. ”That’s why we’re preparing for every conceivable scenario tonight.”
And Leclerc? “I’m not expecting miracles tomorrow, but with a good start, a podium is possible,” believes the Monegasque, who first wants to get past Mercedes driver George Russell. “I’ll give it my all.”
