Leclerc fears Monaco's specificities but hopes to create a surprise

Paradoxically, the Imola Grand Prix ended with a rather satisfactory final result for Ferrari. However, as Frédéric Vasseur pointed out in a press conference, the only reasons for satisfaction for the Team At this stage of the season, the focus is on race pace. In qualifying, the performance is quite different, with an average of almost three tenths lost per lap.

Dance what contexts, Charles Leclerc has few vain illusions. For him, his chances of winning, if not simply performing in the streets of his childhood, are slim. "To be honest, our chances are slim. Our car isn't very good at slow corners, and Monaco is all about slow corners, he explains. So on paper, it's not the circuit that gives us an advantage. But Monaco is unique, and we could have some good surprises when we put the car in tomorrow. If that's the case, everything will be decided in qualifying on Saturday."

Less efficient at low revs, the Ferrari SF-25 isn't the most effective in qualifying either. In theory, therefore, there's nothing that would allow the Scuderia to seriously consider victory this weekend. However, all is not lost from Charles Leclerc's point of view. In Monaco, predictions can be thwarted.

2021 as an anchor point for Leclerc

“There are years when we didn't expect anything and we still managed to be on pole, like in 2021, he recalls in front of the press. Sometimes you go all out when you think you have no chance, and it works. I hope we can recreate the magic of last year. It's still fresh in my memory."

Winner of his first home Grand Prix in 2024, the Monegasque celebrated his success by jumping into the port of Monaco alongside his team principal, Frédéric Vasseur. Far from these images of euphoria, Charles Leclerc prefers to calmly focus on his own skills to repeat the feat. On street circuits, I've often performed well. But this year, our weakness in slow corners is marked, he insistsIf we have a good weekend, it would be a big surprise.

Determined not to put any pressure on himself regarding the result, the driver had already answered negatively when asked about possible reasons for hope emerging after Imola. Nevertheless, this new, particular event in Monaco could likely resemble a new full-scale test for Ferrari. Equipped with settings focused on performance in slow corners, the SF-25 could reveal a whole new potential.

"That's one of the question marks. Here we can focus exclusively on the slow corners, so I hope we'll discover something new about the car that we haven't seen before."

The first part of the answer will be revealed this Friday at 13:10 p.m. (French time), during Free Practice 1. They will be broadcast on Canal+ Sport.

ALSO READ > After doubts, Isack Hadjar approaches Monaco with serenity