Charles Leclerc is setting his sights on a potential ‘turning point’ for Ferrari at the Spanish Grand Prix. The Monegasque driver is pinning all his hopes on the new front wing, which will make its debut at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Leclerc secured his first podium of the season during the past race weekend in Saudi Arabia, but also acknowledged Ferrari’s shortcomings compared to frontrunners McLaren and Red Bull.
In terms of pace, the SF-25 is currently falling short of the other top teams, Charles Leclerc concluded after the Saudi GP. He takes comfort in the thought that a major upgrade will be introduced during the race weekend in Spain, where his car will be equipped with a new front wing. “I think we are lagging in terms of the actual performance of the car,” Leclerc told the media in Jeddah. “We are definitely behind McLaren and Red Bull, and I think also behind Mercedes.”
Extracting the Maximum from the Car
Leclerc further explained that he has little difficulty controlling his SF-25. In the past, Ferrari often struggled with balance issues or unpredictable driving behavior. According to the Monegasque, his current vehicle is much more manageable, but he simply lacks the pace to compete for a win. “On one hand, I am satisfied with the development of the car – I feel that I have never been so comfortable with this package, so we are really getting the maximum out of it.”
“But we just need a better car now,” he continued sternly. “I think there will be a turning point in the season in Barcelona, with a new front wing. I hope that this will work a bit in our favor.” From the Spanish GP, the FIA will be stricter in checking the flexibility of the front wings. Championship leader McLaren is expected to lose a lot of speed as a result. For Ferrari, the stricter tests bring both challenges and opportunities. Leclerc’s confidence suggests that Ferrari hopes to close the gap to the front with this upgrade.
