Leclerc: Ferrari must have a first driver

Charles Leclerc took part in the first tests of the Chinese GP with the desire to turn the page on his missed victory in Bahrain. Despite this failure due to mechanics, the Monegasque is ahead of his teammate Sebastian Vettel 4 points in the Championship at the end of the first two races.

Mattia Binotto, the new director of the Team Ferrari, however, indicated in the Shanghai paddock that it would give priority to Sebastian Vettel if its two drivers had the same title chances. Charles Leclerc knew how to have the necessary repartee to confirm his competitiveness without criticizing his boss's comments.

“I understand Binotto’s choice. The team needs a #1 driver, but I hope to change the order of things as quickly as possible. I would have to stay in front of him, starting in qualifying, which is not easy because Seb is very fast.”, he declared after the first day of testing.

The tests of the former Sauber resident F1 at the Chinese GP were disrupted by an oil pressure problem forcing him to stop in the pits. The Monegasque was only able to cover 13 laps in FP2 which he finished in 7th place.

“It wasn’t great. We stopped for oil pressure problems, but the performance is there and there are no major problems, he said. I don't know if I can play for pole, but we should have the potential. Mercedes et Red Bull are very close, but so much the better. It will be a great fight between the three teams. If we were waiting for the Silver Arrows, we were surprised by the level of the RB15s. They will also have to be monitored. »