Ferrari set to dominate, Leclerc: ‘More performance to be…read more
Charles Leclerc had a strong start to the Australian Grand Prix weekend, finishing as the fastest driver in the second free practice session. Reflecting on the day, the Ferrari driver was pleased with his performance, although he emphasized that there’s still room for improvement. Leclerc noted that the car felt much better compared to the pre-season testing in Bahrain, and he expressed optimism about the team’s progress.
Leclerc explained that the car’s balance has improved, but there is still potential to unlock more performance. He acknowledged that this is a challenge faced by all teams, as the new generation of cars are still being understood and optimized. “The feeling in the car was good, and we had a solid first day on track. There’s still some margin for improvement in terms of balance, which is the same for everyone, as these cars are still pretty new to all of us, and we need to push to understand their limits,” said Leclerc. His statement highlighted that while the Ferrari SF-23 was performing well, there is more work to be done to extract the maximum potential.
Although it was only Friday, Leclerc seemed confident that Ferrari could continue to build on this performance. The Monegasque driver stressed that it was too early to make definitive conclusions about the relative pace of all teams, as qualifying would provide a clearer picture. However, he was optimistic and suggested that Ferrari had the potential to be a strong contender. “It’s too early to come to any conclusions. We will only get a first idea of the respective pace of all the teams in qualifying. All in all, it was a good day, and we look forward to tomorrow, when we want to target pole position,” Leclerc said, focusing on the team’s goal of securing pole.
Ferrari’s efforts to improve their performance come after a challenging 2022 season, where the team faced various setbacks and couldn’t capitalize on their early-season promise. However, Leclerc’s positive assessment of the car’s balance and overall performance in Melbourne signals that Ferrari is heading in the right direction. The team’s progress from testing to race weekend suggests that they’ve made valuable strides in understanding their car and its dynamics.
Leclerc’s upbeat attitude reflected a determined mindset, with Ferrari aiming high for the weekend. The team is keen to maximize every opportunity to perform well, and the work done on Friday was just the beginning of their efforts for the Australian Grand Prix. With qualifying just around the corner, all eyes will be on Ferrari to see if they can translate their positive Friday performance into a front-row start. The race weekend in Melbourne promises to be an exciting one, with Leclerc and Ferrari ready to take on the challenge.
