Leclerc says Ferrari upgrades are working and team can fight at front in Mexico
Charles Leclerc says Ferrari’s recent upgrades are working and he believes the team can be in the fight in Mexico, though he does not consider it favourite for the win.
- 4
- 9 points
What Happened
Charles Leclerc spoke at the FIA press conference ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix. He said Scuderia Ferrari HP is in a positive spell, with recent upgrades working and the gaps between teams very small. Leclerc added that he does not think Ferrari is favourite for the win, but he is convinced the team can be in the fight.
“We’re feeling confident, the upgrades we’ve introduced are working and the gaps between the teams are very small. I don’t think we’re favourites for the win, but I’m convinced we can be in the fight.”
Leclerc said he now feels completely comfortable in the SF-26. He also said Ferrari has made progress in execution recently, while still missing something, particularly in qualifying. He explained that the car is probably very sensitive to changing conditions, as happened in Q3 in Austin, but said he is sure Ferrari can be among the front-runners in the final part of the season.
9points
Four drivers are currently separated by just nine points.
“I’m not the kind of driver who goes crazy about finishing second... What I want from this final part of the season is to be competitive and, if possible, win some races. If we manage to do that, the final result in the Drivers’ standings will probably reflect these strong performances and reward me with second place, but I’m more interested in giving the team another victory than finishing as runner-up in the Drivers’ championship.”
Leclerc was asked about comments from elsewhere on the standard of driving toward the back of the grid. He said the standard in Formula 1 today is extremely high and that having a competitive car can make a huge difference. He added that some drivers fighting at the back are people he raced against in karting and considers very talented.
Previously from Ferrari N.V.
Earlier coverage said Ferrari was targeting another strong result at the Mexico City Grand Prix, round 19, at the 2,285-metre Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. At the United States Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton qualified fourth and fifth for Ferrari. Leclerc had also set the fastest time in the second practice session there, with Hamilton fourth.
- Ferrari targets another strong result at 2,285-metre Mexico City Grand Prix
- Leclerc and Hamilton qualify fourth and fifth for Ferrari at the United States Grand Prix
- Leclerc fastest, Hamilton fourth for Ferrari in second United States Grand Prix practice
Background drawn from MotorClaw's earlier coverage of Ferrari N.V.'s official releases.
Why this matters
Leclerc’s comments give Ferrari and its rivals a clear read on the team’s form for the final part of the season: recent upgrades are working, but qualifying remains a weak point. He also makes clear that a tight four-driver fight for second in the championship matters less to him than adding race wins for Ferrari.
Terms in This Story
- Q3
- The final segment of Formula 1 qualifying, in which the fastest drivers compete for grid positions.
- Drivers’ standings
- The championship table that ranks Formula 1 drivers by points scored over the season.
- FIA
- The governing body for Formula 1 and other motorsport series.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.