Leclerc: “The characteristics of the track do not suit our car very well”

Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) arrives in Australia with the status of championship leader. With two podiums in two races, including a victory at the season opener in Bahrain, the Monegasque is 12 points ahead of his teammate Carlos Sainz and 20 on the outgoing championship Max Verstappen (Red Bull). After two weekends where the car for the Team was to his advantage, Leclerc thinks this will be less the case in Australia.

“Overall I think the track characteristics here don't suit our car very well, said Leclerc, even if he remains convinced that he has every chance against the Red Bulls. Everything is to play for, but I still think we will be in the mix; It's still going to be very close, it's not like the gap is going to be big, so if we have the perfect weekend, anything is possible. »

“The old track would have suited us better”

The changes made to the Albert Park route do not work in favor of the team at the moment. Prancing Horse, unlike the next track on the calendar F1 : Imola (April 24). “I think the old track would have suited us better, but it is what it is now, and we will try to maximize everything this weekend, as always, and hopefully Imola will probably be a track that we fits a little better », estimates the championship leader.

The first two races offered magnificent battles between Leclerc and Verstappen, notably thanks to DRS. The two drivers even competed in mischief in Jeddah not to offer this overtaking assistance to the other. “We've seen the last two races this strategy with DRS, and I'm pretty sure we'll see it even more here because basically every straight has a DRS zone, added Leclerc. Being smart can make a big difference here. » With four zones, there will be no shortage of opportunities.

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