Leclerc Sets Criteria For What Would Be 'Positive Season' For Ferrari
F1Thursday, 29 February 2024 at 21:30
Scuderia Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc put forward a goal for his team that, if reached, would make 2024 a "positive season."
The estimations ahead of the first race of the 2024 season suggest Red Bull should be the team at the front, and Ferrari should most probably be the second-fastest team.
What is not clear is just how far ahead the Austrian team will be of Ferrari. Everyone suggests different estimates, and Charles Leclerc explained why assessing where Red Bull stands is very challenging. He said:
"The thing is that Red Bull is one of the only teams that didn't do a full race simulation during the test, which is normally what helps us to understand where we are exactly. It's very difficult to know where they are."
While Red Bull hasn't done the full race simulation, it seems its new concept is working, at least as the team hoped it would, and the RB20 showed a very strong pace. Leclerc continued:
"We did one, so we know where we are, obviously. Some of the teams have done some race runs, which we have kind of an idea where they stand, but [with] Red Bull, it's not the case."
In 2022, the Monegasque driver achieved a pole position and won the Bahrain race. He feels confident about his skills on this track. The only thing he now needs is a competitive car.
"This is a track we've been strong [at] in the past and I hope we can challenge for the win. Of course, if there's an opportunity we will do absolutely everything to take it."
Even though he doesn't know how his team compares to Red Bull, Leclerc revealed some confidence as he suggested his goal with SF-24 would be to challenge for at least a couple of race wins in 2024.
"To be challenging for many more wins, definitely, that would be a step forward, and that would be a positive season."
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