Charles Leclerc, a driver from Monaco, revealed that the team’s updates for the Spanish Grand Prix arrived prematurely to address the weakness in low-speed corners. Despite the SF-24 car’s improvements compared to its predecessor, Ferrari identified a deficit in low-speed corners compared to their competitors in the early races of the season. However, the updates brought to Barcelona aim to enhance overall performance rather than specifically targeting the low-speed weakness. Leclerc explained that the package aims to increase aerodynamic pressure and reduce drag, resulting in an improved car. The team plans to address the low-speed weakness in future developments.
Mercedes faced difficulties in finding the right balance between high and low speeds early in the season. However, Leclerc revealed that Ferrari’s problem is more complex. According to him, the main weakness of the Ferrari car is an inherent issue that will continue to hinder them until they develop additional updates.
Leclerc explained that the Ferrari car struggles in low-speed and long-extension corners. He mentioned that in these specific corners, the car’s design does not function as desired. The team already has ideas on how to optimize the car’s performance in these situations, especially after their difficulties in China. However, there is still much work to be done. Leclerc believes that even if they optimize performance in low-speed situations, they will not be as good as McLaren or Red Bull. Therefore, there is a need for further improvements.
Leclerc expressed his belief that Red Bull will regain its status as the leading team on a more traditional track, where their issues with driving over the kerbs will not be as prominent. He hopes that Red Bull will perform well in Barcelona due to the layout of the track. He also mentioned that the recent races, from Miami to Canada, were heavily influenced by driving over the kerbs, which is not one of Red Bull’s strengths. Therefore, he anticipates a good performance from Red Bull this weekend.
Despite this, Leclerc remains optimistic that the new parts from Ferrari will help reduce the gap to Red Bull and provide motivation for the remaining races. He stated that if they can be competitive in Barcelona, it will be a good omen for the rest of the season. Leclerc is looking forward to an interesting weekend and expects a competitive performance from Ferrari.
