Leclerc Lowers Expectations Ahead Of Race In Jeddah: 'Verstappen Is Still Too Far Ahead'

Thursday, 07 March 2024 at 00:00

Charles Leclerc asserted ahead of the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix that he still expects Max Verstappen to be too far ahead.

During the first race of the season in Bahrain, Charles Leclerc finished fourth, 39.669 seconds behind the race winner — the triple World Champion in RB20.

On the one hand, it is important to note that the Monegasque driver struggled with brake issues during the first 15-20 laps, which might have reportedly cost him about six seconds per lap.

On the other hand, even if Leclerc were one second faster during the first 20 laps, he would still cross the finish line ten seconds behind Verstappen.

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Bahrain International Circuit suited Red Bull because it was a track with high tire degradation. However, it is estimated that the gap to other teams should be lower on tracks with lower tire degradations, just like Jeddah Corniche Circuit.

Speaking to the media before the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend, the Scuderia Ferrari F1 driver said his team won't probably challenge Red Bull in the upcoming few races.

"Not for now but I think we are in a much better place compared to last year. After the first race, we were more trying to fix the issues rather than focusing on the future and the next upgrades."

Red Bull remained conservative after the first race, saying Jeddah would be important in showing how big of an advantage they really have over rivals.

If Ferrari managed to complicate things for Red Bull during this week's race in Saudi Arabia, we might be in for a more thrilling season than the results from the first race suggested. But, Leclerc keeps expectations low ahead of the second race as he added:

"This year the car is in a much better place, in a place where we expected it to be. So now we can focus on the future upgrades. That is looking better. However, Max is still too far ahead."