Ferrari Must Fix Qualifying Woes to Stay in F1 Title Hunt, Says Leclerc
Ferrari's qualifying performance needs immediate improvement to maintain championship hopes, according to Charles Leclerc, despite securing third place at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Red racecar speeding on track
Currently 50 points behind in the drivers' championship, Leclerc emphasizes that Ferrari's race pace is competitive, but qualifying struggles are severely limiting their success. The team's recent qualifying issues stem from inconsistent problems, with the latest race showing a four-tenth deficit in the first three corners despite strong performance in other sectors.
The Monégasque driver highlighted: "We are close on race pace. Free air dictates who is going to win the race a little bit. That's always been the case, maybe this year a little bit more than other years."
Ferrari's strong points include:
- Competitive race pace
- Excellent strategy execution
- Reliable pit stops
- Good car balance during races
Despite leading temporarily on medium tires before switching to hards, Leclerc believes the team maximized their potential in Saudi Arabia. However, he stresses that car performance improvements are crucial, particularly in qualifying, to maintain their championship aspirations.
"We cannot lose too many races before finding it because we're already 50 points down in the drivers' championship," Leclerc warned, emphasizing the urgency of addressing their qualifying weakness to remain competitive in the title race.