In the early races of the season, Ferrari drivers, led by Charles Leclerc, have maintained an intense battle with those from Mercedes, generating the opinion that both teams are almost at the same level. However, Leclerc has expressed that this view does not reflect the reality of their performance.
In a recent press conference ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, Leclerc stated that “for now, we are in an acceptable situation,” but that Ferrari’s true objective is to win races, a challenge that he currently sees as complicated due to Mercedes’ superior performance. “I don’t think we are as close as people might think,” the Monegasque driver declared.
Leclerc analyzed the technical differences between the two cars, noting that Ferrari’s SF-26 has a different performance profile than Mercedes’ W17. The latter enjoys better mechanical balance and more aerodynamic downforce, allowing it to maintain speed in corners better and utilize energy more effectively when accelerating.
Moreover, Leclerc commented on the effectiveness of Ferrari’s turbo, which has been designed to minimize lag during acceleration, enabling drivers to adapt better to race situations. Despite this, he acknowledged that the competition remains tough, especially when Mercedes finds ‘clean air’ during races. “The key for us is to apply pressure at the start, but once they achieve a good gap, they show a much superior pace,” he added.
The Ferrari driver emphasized the importance of working to improve and stated that his confidence is unaffected, as the team has plans to continue evolving the car and fighting for the victory goal.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
