Charles Leclerc faces another difficult weekend in Barcelona – Following a technical issue, he candidly analyzes mistakes, strategy, and Hamilton’s victory
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc had a mixed race at the Barcelona Grand Prix. The Monegasque driver attributed his struggles to a combination of strategic difficulties, a poor starting position, and a technical failure that ended his race prematurely. At the same time, he expressed satisfaction with his teammate Lewis Hamilton’s victory and the team’s progress thanks to recent upgrades.
Leclerc started the race from tenth on the grid and, in hindsight, saw this as a decisive disadvantage. “ “I think the two stops were a mistake, but the biggest problem was starting from P10,” explained the Ferrari driver. Although he had at one point considered a fourth-place finish a realistic possibility, his starting position made the race much more difficult.
As the race progressed, Ferrari opted for a two-stop strategy, which, according to Leclerc, proved not to be optimal in hindsight. “I think the two stops were a bit of a mistake on my part; three stops would probably have been better,” he said. Nevertheless, he emphasized that the strategic decision was not the only limiting factor.
Technical defect ends Leclerc’s race
Shortly before the end of the race, Leclerc was ultimately forced to retire his Ferrari due to a technical problem. The failure of the power steering and other systems was particularly critical. “I lost the power steering, and with the virtual safety car, I don’t know if the result would have changed much. Maybe P4 would have been possible,” said Leclerc. He later added: “I had no gears left and no brakes either.”
Despite his own retirement, Leclerc is positive about his team’s success and, in particular, about the performance of Hamilton, who won the race. “It’s great for the team and great for Lewis. The team has worked hard to bring upgrades, and it seems to be working,” he explained. At the same time, he made it clear that he himself now needs to step up to match his teammate’s level.
Hamilton continues strong form
Hamilton has shown a very high level of performance in the past four races, Leclerc emphasized. “Now I have to be up there with him, which hasn’t been the case in the last few races since Canada,” he says.
Leclerc is also cautiously optimistic about the overall development of the Ferrari package. The latest updates have brought progress, particularly in terms of tire wear, even if the conditions in Barcelona may have exaggerated this effect.
“I think we’ve taken a big step forward this weekend, especially with tire wear,” explains Leclerc. At the same time, however, he warns against interpreting this as a complete turnaround.
In conclusion, the Ferrari driver expressed disappointment with how his own weekend unfolded, particularly due to technical issues and the points lost in the battle for the top positions. Nevertheless, he is looking ahead to the upcoming races and the car’s further development, hoping for a more stable and successful overall package.
