Charles Leclerc downplayed Ferrari’s chances of winning the Australian Grand Prix, suggesting that Max Verstappen and Red Bull may have been hiding the true speed of their car.
Leclerc, along with Ferrari, struggled to keep up with Verstappen and Red Bull in the era of Formula 1 ground effect. However, Ferrari made significant progress over the winter in hopes of challenging the current world champions this season. Despite a decent performance in Albert Park, Leclerc expressed caution about his team’s prospects against Verstappen.
During the second practice session on Friday, Leclerc topped the time sheets. However, he lost twenty minutes of track time due to damage to the floor of his car in the first practice session. Nevertheless, it seems that Ferrari has decent pace this weekend. Sergio Perez even suggested that Ferrari could pose a challenge to Red Bull.
Leclerc acknowledged the positive feeling within the team after two solid sessions on Friday. However, he warned his team about potential surprises that could ruin their weekend, possibly alluding to the pace of Verstappen and Red Bull in qualifying.
The Ferrari driver stated that his team is in a much better position to compete with Verstappen this season. However, Leclerc believes that the current world champions may be hiding their true speed. He mentioned that his team will have to wait and see the true potential of the Red Bull RB-20 this weekend.
Max Verstappen secured two dominant victories in the first two races of the 2024 season. The three-time world champion led with a significant margin in both races. However, a closer competition is expected in the Australian Grand Prix, especially after Leclerc showed promising pace in the SF24.
Leclerc believes that the Melbourne race could be Ferrari’s best opportunity to win a race this season. However, he admitted that it is difficult to compare the true pace of the two teams due to traffic during the practice sessions.
Undoubtedly, Charles Leclerc is aiming for victory in the Australian Grand Prix. The Monegasque driver tasted victory last at the Austrian Grand Prix in 2022. However, the 26-year-old remains determined to bring glory back to Maranello. Fans are eager to see how Ferrari will fare against Max Verstappen and Red Bull this weekend.
