Charles Leclerc says the improve that Ferrari dropped at Bahrain ought to present a extra noticeable step ahead at this weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, because it seems to shut the hole to McLaren.
Ferrari introduced a brand new ground to the final race in Bahrain as a way to get worth out of it at two of the three races within the present tripleheader. Whereas Leclerc admitted it was unlikely to have a significant influence on final weekend’s observe structure, he believes the high-speed avenue circuit of Jeddah ought to enable the workforce to grasp if it has made the deliberate progress with the newest improvement.
“For the structure of the observe, I believe we ought to be doing a little bit of a step ahead — a bit extra of a step ahead than we did in Bahrain, which is optimistic,” Leclerc mentioned. “We clearly nonetheless have to substantiate that, however I believe the numbers that we had been anticipating from this improve in Bahrain had been those that we noticed, and contemplating that’s the case, I believe we’ll profit slightly bit extra from a observe like this.
“Total grip has been an enormous enchancment. And in particular corners — nook phases, particularly, which we should always acquire from a bit extra on a observe like this.”
Leclerc believes Ferrari is presently on a par with Mercedes and considers Purple Bull more durable to research, however he sees the hole to McLaren as standing between 0.2-0.3s. Though Ferrari is unlikely to shut that with one improve, he believes race victories can quickly be on the playing cards after feeling a greater consequence received away in Bahrain.
“I actually suppose that the rostrum was doable in Bahrain with out the security automotive, however that’s how racing goes typically,” he mentioned. “I believe we’re doing steps in the appropriate route, whether or not the rostrum goes to be this weekend or afterward, I don’t know, however I believe we’ve received our possibilities.
“We’ve been taking barely totally different instructions in the previous couple of races, which I notably like, and if we preserve discovering beneficial properties by moving into that route, I hope we will rating our first podium, however my hope is a little more than that. I imply, a podium isn’t one thing that I notably get pleasure from concentrating on — a win can be superb.
“I’m at all times absolutely motivated to extract the utmost out of my automotive, irrespective of the place that brings me. After all you might be at all times upset if you do every little thing good and the perfect consequence achievable is P4, however then you definitely get again into the automotive the following race and — at the least for me — I nonetheless have the complete motivation to attempt to do one thing particular and to perhaps win a race with a automotive that’s much less good than the folks round me.
“In order that’s the place I discover my motivation — it’s to attempt to outperform at any time when I can. So motivation gained’t be an issue.”
