Despite eleven updates for his Ferrari, Charles Leclerc sees no reason for optimism in Miami
Despite numerous updates at Ferrari, Charles Leclerc does not expect a major turnaround for the Scuderia. In the Monegasque driver’s view, Mercedes in particular is too far behind to mount a challenge for the top spot.
This weekend, the Scuderia has no fewer than eleven updates in its arsenal. Due to the mandatory break between the Japanese Grand Prix and the Miami Grand Prix, not only the Italians but numerous teams have prepared a lot of new parts.
“Seeing so many updates from so many different teams is very unusual,” said Leclerc. “Since we had a five-week break, I’m sure we’ll essentially be seeing new cars from most of them here.”
Nevertheless, the 28-year-old doesn’t foresee any major shifts in the balance of power as a result: “Maybe we’ll see bigger or smaller gaps between the teams, but I don’t know.”
“Last weekend we were close to McLaren, so I think the updates should help us here. At least I hope so.”
No duel with Mercedes
Leclerc continues to view Mercedes in particular as the unbeatable leader of the class. “To compete against Mercedes with just our updates, they’re still too far ahead,” said Leclerc. “But I think it’ll be very interesting.”
In the Constructors’ Championship, Mercedes leads with 135 points, followed by Ferrari with 90 and McLaren-Mercedes with 45 points.
Especially with an eye on the rest of the season, Leclerc sees Miami as a pivotal weekend:
“I think [the updates] will determine what happens after [the weekend]. We’ll want to take a new direction in development and try new things, based on the analysis of what the other teams have brought.”
Miami is a special Grand Prix, and not just because of the preceding spring break. After all, a sprint weekend is planned in Florida. Due to this setup, the duration of the first free practice session has been increased from 60 to 90 minutes. Additionally, we may be in for a literal thunderstorm on Sunday, which could derail the main race.
Regarding potential weather disruptions, teammate Lewis Hamilton seems very relaxed. “I tested for two days in the rain at Fiorano, and I hope that prepares me well for Sunday in case of a shower,” said the seven-time world champion. Whether the race would actually start if the worst came to the worst is another question.