Leclerc: Ferrari not as close as expected in the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Imola.

Charles Leclerc, from Monaco, competed for Ferrari in the SF-24 car during the Formula 1 World Championship at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Imola, Italy. In qualifying, Leclerc admitted that Ferrari was not as competitive as they had hoped, finishing in fourth place. Despite introducing a significant upgrade package for the weekend, Leclerc trailed behind Max Verstappen from Red Bull and the two McLaren drivers during the Q3 session in Imola, finishing two tenths of a second behind the fastest time. Leclerc acknowledged that Ferrari’s upgrades delivered the expected improvements but fell short of securing pole position. Despite the disappointment, Leclerc acknowledged that the upgrade performed well and that his own lap was strong. He also suggested that Red Bull may have hidden their true performance during the practice sessions. Leclerc was surprised by McLaren’s strong performance and expects both Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris to be competitive in the race. Ferrari has shown better performance over longer distances, but Leclerc acknowledged that overtaking will be challenging in Imola due to the reduction of the DRS (Drag Reduction System). Despite the challenges, Leclerc remains optimistic and believes that aiming for a race victory is still possible.