Charles Leclerc, the driver from Monaco, raced for Ferrari SF-24 on April 19, 2024, at the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai. Leclerc finished in sixth place during the qualifying session and expressed his thoughts on Ferrari’s lack of pace in the first sector. Despite being the closest competitor to Red Bull in the early stages of the 2024 season, Ferrari could not match their one-lap speed. While Max Verstappen secured pole position for Red Bull, Leclerc found himself behind Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin and both McLarens. Ferrari team boss Frederic Vasseur acknowledged that the team struggled in the opening corners. Leclerc, however, remains optimistic and believes he understands the reasons behind the time loss. He is confident that Ferrari has the potential to compete for a podium position. Leclerc admitted that the team focused on setting up the car for the race rather than optimizing their qualifying performance. Despite starting in sixth place, Leclerc is hopeful that Ferrari’s strong race pace and tire management will enable them to make a comeback and secure a third-place finish. He is determined to overtake other drivers quickly and hopes to avoid any hindrance from DRS trains. Leclerc entered the Chinese Grand Prix weekend with the goal of improving his performance on low fuel, which had previously cost him a win in Australia and a podium in Japan. Although he made progress and out-qualified his teammate Carlos Sainz for the first time in three rounds, Leclerc believes there is still room for improvement. He acknowledged that he did not have a standout lap during qualifying but expressed confidence that he is on the right path and expects to reach his desired level soon. Leclerc is optimistic about the upcoming weekend and anticipates a better overall performance.
Siegel's number 18 car already had a different design due to his major accident earlier in the week. Photo: Kevin DejewskiThe bump session for the Indy 500 on...
Read more