Charles Leclerc, Monegasque driver for Ferrari, is hopeful that the Ferrari Formula 1 team can achieve a significant improvement when they introduce updates to their SF-24 car. Ferrari had a promising start to the season, emerging as the second fastest team overall and securing a win in Australia thanks to Carlos Sainz. In Miami, Leclerc achieved his third podium of the season, finishing behind Max Verstappen of Red Bull and Lando Norris of McLaren, who introduced a substantial update package for the weekend. Ferrari plans to introduce a series of updates, but the timing of their availability has not been confirmed yet.
Leclerc acknowledged the positives of the weekend, comparing Ferrari’s performance to that of Max Verstappen. However, he also recognized the strength of Lando Norris and McLaren, especially in the race. Leclerc believes that the season will be determined by the updates each team brings, and he hopes that Ferrari’s updates will be as effective as McLaren’s, allowing them to make significant progress.
During the race in Miami, Leclerc started from the front row but was overtaken by Oscar Piastri of McLaren. After undercutting Piastri, Leclerc was passed by Norris during the pit stop phase. Despite the challenges faced, Leclerc expressed gratitude that all drivers made it through the first corner without damage. He acknowledged that Ferrari had slightly less speed but emphasized that they did their best. Unfortunate timing with the Safety Car left Ferrari with older tires among the leaders. However, Leclerc and the team managed the situation well, resulting in a third-place finish.
