Leclerc Reveals Ferrari Weakness Ahead Of United States Grand Prix

Friday, 20 October 2023 at 11:00

Updated at Wednesday, 25 October 2023 at 21:37

Scuderia Ferrari F1 driver Charles Leclerc Revealed the weakness of the Ferrari car during the FIA Press Conference ahead of the 2023 United States Grand Prix.

Ferrari did not have the best race weekend in Qatar, where the team collected 13 points in total. Leclerc himself finished out of points during the sprint race but partially made up for it during the race fifth ahead of Fernando Alonso.

The track that consists of almost only high-speed corners and straights did apparently not suit Ferrari. The Monegasque driver explained to the media:

“"I think on paper, Qatar was probably one of the worst tracks for us - for the conditions but also for the track characteristics itself."”

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The Qatar Grand Prix was a sprint weekend, therefore drivers and teams had very little time to adjust their car setups to the track. The same will go for this week's race at Circuit of the Americas.

“"Having said that, I think on Sprint sprint weekends, the thing that has the most influence is how your FP1 goes because from FP1 you can't change your car anymore"”

After the Free Practice One is finished, teams with their drivers have very little time to make the last adjustments to their cars, and then, from the beginning of the qualifying, no further changes can be made.

“"So the priority is to start FP1 strongly and then to take the right decision with the setup. We know that this is crucial for the rest of the weekend."”

Even though Ferrari has been weaker at the Lusail International Circuit, characterized by high-speed corners, Leclerc thinks Ferrari's weakness in the United States Grand Prix is in the medium to slower-speed corners.

“"All the high speed you need you need confidence, that's clear. Where we've been lacking a bit more in the last few races was the medium and slow-speed corners. So this is where we'll be focusing more."”