Leclerc finished in fifth place in Barcelona, one position ahead of his Ferrari teammate, Carlos Sainz.
Charles Leclerc denies that Ferrari’s recent drop in performance is part of a larger pattern and believes that the team can return to the top of the grid at the Formula 1 Austrian Grand Prix.
Leclerc ended his long winless streak last month in Monaco, securing Ferrari’s second victory of the season and sparking speculation of a possible title challenge.
However, the Italian team has not reached the podium since then, suffering a double retirement in Canada and struggling to keep up with their rivals in Spain last weekend.
But Leclerc dismisses the idea that there is a connection between the two events and argues that Ferrari’s lack of speed in Barcelona is due to the incomplete optimization of their upgraded car.
When asked if Ferrari’s difficulties could be attributed to choosing the wrong setup direction, Leclerc replied, “I don’t believe so.
“In Montreal, we were able to identify what went wrong and it was mainly related to the tires.
“In Barcelona, it was simply a matter of lacking speed, and we were slower than expected, but I don’t believe we failed to optimize our package.
“Yes, we will continue to work on ourselves and strive to optimize the new package we have on the car.
“That race in Barcelona was the first time we used these new parts, and we still have some work to do to fully understand them.
“However, I don’t believe the problems we faced in Montreal and Barcelona are the same, so I don’t see it as a recurring issue.”
Leclerc acknowledged that Ferrari is losing two tenths of a second to compete with McLaren and Red Bull on traditional tracks, but he believes that the SF-24 has the potential to reduce that difference. When asked what he needs to secure a victory this weekend, Leclerc stated: “I understand the time difference between us and the pole position, which was two or three tenths in Barcelona. However, I believe that the car has the capability, we just need to optimize our setup and we will be back where we want to be. We couldn’t achieve that in Montreal, mainly in relation to the tires, and the conditions were not ideal for us in Barcelona. But, once again, our preparation in the simulator for this track was good, so I have confidence that we will be competitive.”
Leclerc revealed that Ferrari was losing significant time to their rivals in Barcelona, especially in the slow-speed corners at turns 5 and 10. However, the Monegasque driver, who claimed victory in Austria in 2022, is hopeful that the layout of the Red Bull Ring track will not expose the weaknesses of the team based in Maranello. “We are facing difficulties mainly in long, low-speed corners, which are less frequent here, so that is a positive sign for us,” he explained. “However, we are also working to improve our performance in those corners and I believe we have made some progress in the past few races. On the other hand, we are facing challenges in other types of corners. Therefore, we need to bring it all together, but we are actively working on it and I am confident that we will have a good performance this weekend.”
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In the world of sports, competition is fierce and every victory is celebrated fervently. However, not all victories are fair and clean. Recently, allegations of cheating have emerged in the world of motorsport, with a driver being accused of using unfair tactics to win races. These allegations have caused a great uproar in the motorsport community and raised questions about the integrity of the sport.
The driver in question is known for their exceptional skill on the tracks, but now their reputation is at stake. Several competitors claim to have witnessed the driver engaging in questionable practices during races. These practices include risky maneuvers, dangerous overtakes, and even intentional collisions with other cars.
The allegations of cheating have divided the motorsport community. Some believe that the driver is innocent and that the accusations are unfounded. They argue that competition is fierce and that all drivers are willing to do whatever it takes to win. Others, however, are outraged by the driver’s actions and demand a thorough investigation.
The motorsport federation is currently reviewing the allegations and has promised to take appropriate action if cheating is proven. In the meantime, the driver continues to compete in races, facing criticism and suspicion from their fellow competitors.
This controversy highlights the importance of integrity in sports. Motorsport fans expect their favorite drivers to compete fairly and cleanly, and any violation of this expectation is seen as a betrayal. The motorsport community is eager for the truth to be revealed and for justice to be served.
In the end, what matters is that the sport is held in high esteem and that the drivers are examples of fair play and honesty. Cheating has no place in motorsport and any driver caught using unfair tactics should be held accountable for their actions. The motorsport community is united in its pursuit of truth and the preservation of the sport’s integrity.
