Charles Leclerc, Ferrari’s Formula 1 driver, has expressed frustration over the intense scrutiny surrounding his team. Speaking ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Leclerc stated that the focus on Ferrari is “not really fair.” He elaborated, “Again, I feel like it’s being over-discussed and over-analysed when it’s about the red cars. That’s not really fair. In Monza, if you look at the four top teams, three of them had fights like this, with the car finishing in the grass, and at the end of the day the only thing we are speaking about still now is the red cars, which I don’t think is fair.”
Leclerc addresses media scrutiny
Leclerc’s remarks follow a heated incident at the Italian Grand Prix, where he and Lewis Hamilton engaged in a close battle on the track. The race concluded with Leclerc’s car sliding into the tire barrier, an incident he later reflected on, saying, “I mean, Turn 2 in Monza is something that I’ve said repeatedly, that it’s not something that we want to see ever happen again, and that’s going too far on my side.” While acknowledging his error, Leclerc believes the media’s attention has been disproportionate. He highlighted that similar incidents involving other teams receive less attention, yet the spotlight remains fixed on Ferrari.
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Wheel-to-wheel racing with Hamilton
When questioned about his wheel-to-wheel racing with Hamilton, Leclerc admitted to relishing the challenge. “I mean, I’ve been with Ferrari since 2019 now and I know everything we do is overanalysed, over-discussed, and very often the conclusions that are taken after those kinds of fights are the wrong ones,” he said. Despite the fierce competition, Leclerc stressed the significance of teamwork and Ferrari’s overall success. He added, “Yes, I am [happy with the wheel-to-wheel racing].
Then, of course, there have been moments where I went too far, where Lewis went too far, but I think the key in that is to discuss. We both want to win, but we also want to win as a team, and to make Ferrari come out on top eventually. So that is the priority. But I mean, I enjoy fighting with Lewis, and that’s what is exciting in Formula 1, is to be fighting against the best, and Lewis is definitely up there. So, for me, it’s a big challenge, but I’m enjoying it.”
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Azerbaijan Grand Prix preview
Looking ahead to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Leclerc acknowledged his inconsistent results at the Baku City Circuit. While he has excelled in qualifying, securing race wins has proven difficult. “Qualifying is probably where we struggle the most in terms of car performance,” he observed. Leclerc remains hopeful about the team’s prospects, stating, “If we are in front in qualifying, then I’m hopeful for the race.” The primary focus is on meticulous preparation and fine-tuning the car to meet the unique demands of the Baku track.
He noted, “With this year’s car as well, it seems that there’s a lot of variability from one weekend to the other, just based on the optimisation of your power unit. And on a track like this, it will play a big role as well. So, I think that’s where we should focus.”
