Charles Leclerc: We liked the previous version of the circuit better

The Ferrari team started the season confidently and, after two stages, is in the lead in both standings of the championship. But the riders, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, fear they will have a harder time on the track in Albert Park with its updated configuration than in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

“In general, I think the characteristics of this track don’t suit our car the best,” Leclerc admitted. – But we have something to fight for, and I believe we will still lead the way, as the results should be very tight. We are unlikely to be so noticeably behind and if we can work perfectly this weekend then anything is possible.

I think the previous version of the circuit suited us better, but now it has changed so we have to try to do everything as correctly as possible – but as always. I hope the track in Imola suits us better.”

Carlos Sainz agrees with his partner: “Our car performed well on the previous two circuits. But in Jeddah, where the speeds on straights are higher, it seemed as if the Red Bull car was faster, more balanced and more capable of cornering.

They will probably be a bit stronger here too, given how long the straights have gotten at Albert Park, but we can still do our job well.”

The Australian circuit now has four DRS zones, a first in Formula 1, and Leclerc believes he and his team will have to develop the right tactics as DRS has had a decisive influence on the outcome of the first two races this year.

“Because we are behind Red Bull in terms of speed on the straights, it means we have to try to act wisely,” Charles emphasized. “We’ve seen that in the previous two races there was a specific DRS tactic and I’m sure it will be even more so in Melbourne as there are DRS zones on all the straights here. Everything will depend on overtaking, and whoever is smarter will be able to get better results.”